Bio

Mike French is Vice President for Space Systems at the Aerospace Industries Association. Mike's experience in the space industry ranges from advising senior leaders at NASA and the White House on commercial space policy, to analyzing major space investments for funds and banks, to helping start-up technology companies build commercialization plans. Mike previously served as SVP for Commercial Space at Bryce Space and Technology and as NASA’s Chief of Staff. At NASA, he advised the NASA Administrator, and White House and other government leadership, on national space policy issues. Mike helped shape and obtain funding for NASA’s commercial space programs and advanced innovative public private partnerships, including a privately-funded Mars science mission and a cost-sharing program to develop space habitat systems. Mike received NASA's Distinguished Service Medal for his service. Prior to serving in government, Mike practiced law in the defense and aerospace sector in Los Angeles. As an attorney, Mike conducted internal investigations of major aerospace weapons systems for a leading defense industry client and represented financial services, energy, and biotechnology clients in litigation. Mike has a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.