Ferguson Names 23-Member Governor’s Space Council
Published: 5:00 pm Friday, October 2, 2026
Author: Steve Hunter (shunter@soundpublishing.com)
Two Kent elected officials and two aerospace leaders are among 23 individuals selected for the new Governor’s Space Council. Kent Mayor Dana Ralph, State Sen. Claudia Kauffman (D-Kent), Stoke Space CEO Andy Lapsa, and Blue Origin’s Chief Commercial Officer Michael Edmonds are included in this council chosen by Gov. Bob Ferguson, as detailed in a September 28 news release from the Governor’s Office.
The council comprises representatives from the commercial space industry, aerospace, advanced manufacturing sectors, higher education institutions, and labor organizations. Its primary role is to advise Gov. Ferguson on strategies to maintain Washington’s competitiveness in the space sector and to enhance the state’s status as a global leader in the space economy.
Goals of the Council
The Governor’s Space Council is tasked with several objectives:
- Evaluate Competitive Position: Assess Washington’s standing compared to other leading states and nations in the commercial space economy.
- Identify Growth Opportunities: Spot barriers and opportunities for industry expansion.
- Workforce Development: Analyze education and research needs for workforce development.
- Infrastructure Assessment: Review the capacity of infrastructure and supply chains.
- Commercial Launch Capabilities: Explore opportunities for Washington-based commercial launch capabilities and other space-related infrastructure.
- Advise the Governor: Provide recommendations to strengthen Washington’s leadership in aerospace and commercial space innovation.
Gov. Ferguson emphasized during the announcement at the Museum of Flight in Seattle the importance of adapting to the fast-evolving space industry: “Washington has deep roots in the space industry… we cannot be complacent. My council will help us innovate and adapt as this sector rapidly grows.”
Washington’s Space Industry
Washington is already a global leader in the space sector. From 1969 to 1971, Boeing employees in Kent constructed the lunar rovers used during the Apollo missions. Today, over 90 space companies in Washington employ more than 13,000 workers, generating an estimated $4.6 billion in annual economic activity and $1.6 billion in payroll. Notably, roughly two-thirds of the world’s operational satellites are constructed in Washington.
Council Members
Here are the members of the Governor’s Space Council:
- Andy Lapsa – Stoke Space (Kent)
- Rob Meyerson – Interlune (Seattle)
- Jeff Thornburg – Portal Space Systems (Bothell)
- Austin Link – Starfish Space (Tukwila)
- Colin Doughan – Gravitics (Marysville)
- Michael Edmonds – Blue Origin (Kent)
- Lisa Scalpone – Amazon LEO (Redmond)
- Cornelia Rosu – SpaceX (Redmond, local office)
- Kelly Maloney – Space Northwest (Seattle)
- Dana Ralph – Kent Mayor
- Angela Birney – Redmond Mayor
- Claudia Kauffman – D-47th District (Kent)
- Alex Ybarra – R-13th District (Quincy)
- Brendan Wales – FUSE (Bellevue)
- Jason Chan – IAM 751 (Seattle)
- Ray Goforth – SPEEA (Tukwila)
- Bill Pike – PNNL (Seattle)
- Mehran Mesbahi – University of Washington Professor
- Betsy Cantwell – Washington State University President
- Lynn Strickland – Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee
- Trevor Devaney – Hi-Rel Laboratories (Spokane)
- Scott Keeney – nLIGHT (Camas)
- Philip Johnston – Starcloud (Redmond)
This esteemed council is expected to be instrumental in shaping the future of Washington’s role in the global space economy.
