After the collapse of the USSR, cooperation between U.S. and Russian aerospace companies symbolized the spirit of the post-Cold War era.  In many ways, these efforts have been very successful, reducing costs and enabling projects like the International Space Station.  However, rising tensions with Russia have led to questions about whether this relationship is good for the United States and its continued access to space.  What are the challenges and risks of working in Russia?  How important has Russia become to U.S. access to space?  Should the U.S. count on continued cooperation in the future?  To answer these questions and more, please join Mark Albrecht, former president of International Launch Services and senior space policy advisor to President Bush from 1989 to 1993.

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Mark Albrecht

Dr. Mark J. Albrecht is the former president of International Launch Services (ILS), the Russian/American joint venture company formed by Lockheed Martin Corporation, Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, and Rocket Space Complex Energia.  He was responsible for the performance and profitability of the joint venture.  ILS provides the Lockheed Martin Astronautics-built Atlas and the Russian-built Proton and Angara launch vehicles and associated launch integration services for government and commercial satellite customers worldwide.

Albrecht's specific responsibilities included financial achievement and operating budget control, and liaison with the United States and Russian governments, ILS joint venture companies in Russia, and the Kazakhstan government.  Albrecht was also responsible for the direction of all ILS marketing and sales activities and internal organization and personnel matters.  As president, Albrecht had full contracting responsibility for all aspects of each satellite launch campaign.

Previously, Albrecht served as vice president of Business Development for Lockheed Martin Space Systems, headquartered in Bethesda, Md.  In that position, he was responsible for domestic and international marketing and business development for the Space Systems operating companies and managing its strategic planning and customer relations.

Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Albrecht was senior vice president of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).  In this capacity, he coordinated all space business activities, including business development, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions.  He joined SAIC in 1992 as its first director of Washington Operations.

Albrecht was appointed by President George Bush as the Executive Secretary of the White House National Space Council in 1989, serving in that capacity until June 1992.  Previously, he served six years as the legislative assistant for National Security Affairs to Senator Pete Wilson of California.  Albrecht has also held positions as a senior research analyst for the Intelligence Community Staff in Washington, D.C., and the Rand Corporation in Santa Monica, Calif., and as a member of SAIC research staff.

Albrecht has been awarded the U.S. Department of Defense Distinguished Civil Service Medal, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and the National Space Society Space Pioneer Award.  He currently is an associate member of the Defense Science Board and serves on several advisory and corporate boards, including United Space Alliance and the American Astronautical Society.

Albrecht holds bachelor's and master's degrees in history from the University of California - Los Angeles and a doctorate in public policy analysis from the Rand Graduate School.

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