Patricia Cooper is a leading expert on satellite communications, regulation and space policy, and is the founder of the space consultancy, Constellation Advisory, LLC.

For six years, Patricia led Government Affairs for the Starlink satellite broadband constellation project at Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX). As Vice President, Patricia secured Federal Communications Commission authorization for a record 12,000 satellites, and market access to offer high-speed broadband services in more than 20 countries. She also advocated for sensible updates to spectrum, telecom competition and space safety regulations in the US and internationally, in order to support the new generation of satellite networks. Today, Starlink serves over a million users worldwide with a constellation of over 4,000 satellites.

Prior to SpaceX, Patricia was Intelsat’s Vice President of Government Affairs & Policy, heading up U.S. and international policy and U.S. Congressional lobbying activities for the world’s second largest geostationary satellite fleet. Before that, Patricia led the Satellite Industry Association (SIA), the leading trade organization representing U.S. satellite operators, manufacturers and service providers. As SIA President, Patricia advocated for the industry in regulatory and national security arenas, fair trade and competition rules internationally, and spearheaded a successful bipartisan, bi-cameral legislative initiative to reform export controls for satellites.

Patricia previously served at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s International Bureau, both as Senior Satellite Competition Advisor and Branch Chief for Regional & Bilateral Affairs. Before that, Patricia directed international market access for two start-ups – CoreExpress, an Internet fiber infrastructure company, and PanAmSat Corporation, a disruptor in the early geostationary satellite services market that gained global prominence and eventually merged with Intelsat. She began her career at the U.S. Department of Commerce as an International Trade Specialist for the satellite industry and telecom markets in Latin America.

Patricia is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Space, the Hague Institute of Justice’s Off World Council, and the advisory committee for the International Astronomical Union’s Centre for the Protection of Dark & Quiet Skies. She previously served on expert advisory committees for the FCC, U.S. Departments of State, Commerce and Homeland Security, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the International Telecommunications Union. She has testified often before the U.S. Congress and Canadian Parliament, and participates regularly in United Nations and International Telecommunications Union fora on spectrum, space and economic development.

Patricia holds a Master’s Degree with Distinction in International Economics from the John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and Bachelor’s Degrees in Political Science and German from Kansas State University (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa).

Patricia is on the Advisory Council of The Off-World Approach.

“Space has long been an arena where human ingenuity and curiosity meet. If space is to remain open to future exploration and development, then countries, companies and academia will be called upon to collaborate on thoughtful norms and principles for space.  The Washington Compact takes a useful forward stride to promote responsible and fair behaviors that will sustain space as a domain for space commerce, space-based science and human exploration.”

– Patricia Cooper