{"id":"53ae5f46-f597-4979-a455-efb310d6fe0f","slug":"melanie-stricklan","name":"Melanie Stricklan","bioBrief":"Co-founder and former CEO of [Slingshot Aerospace](/companies/slingshot-aerospace), an El Segundo-based space intelligence and simulation company building the world's first Digital Space Twin of the orbital environment. A 21-year U.S. Air Force veteran, she co-founded Slingshot in 2017 with Air Force colleague Thomas Ashman and entrepreneur David Godwin. Named CEO of the Year for 2023 by the ASCEND event. Scaled Slingshot into a global leader in AI-native orbital intelligence, securing major U.S. Space Force contracts including a $25M STRATFI and $69.2M SBIR III. Departed Slingshot to join Vast as Head of Special Programs in 2025, building next-generation space infrastructure.","priorExits":null,"nationality":"American","verificationPosture":"verified","aliases":[],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/mstricklan","title":"Melanie Stricklan — Head of Special Programs @ Vast (LinkedIn)","sourceName":"LinkedIn"},{"url":"https://www.vastspace.com/updates/vast-names-former-ceo-of-slingshot-aerospace-and-u-s-air-force-veteran-melanie-stricklan-to-lead-new-special-programs-division","title":"Vast Names Former CEO of Slingshot Aerospace and U.S. Air Force Veteran Melanie Stricklan to Lead New Special Programs Division","sourceName":"Vast (official)"},{"url":"https://www.nasa.gov/people/melanie-stricklan/","title":"Melanie Stricklan — NASA profile","sourceName":"NASA"},{"url":"https://dot.la/slingshot-aerospace-melanie-stricklan-2650451585.html","title":"Slingshot Aerospace Co-Founder Melanie Stricklan Named CEO","sourceName":"dot.la"}],"reviewStatus":"reviewed","createdAt":"2026-08-23T23:10:38.184Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-24T09:11:18.616Z","educations":[],"companyRoles":[{"id":"ee6119b8-c9ff-4c4c-9c91-ca015e7244c3","personId":"53ae5f46-f597-4979-a455-efb310d6fe0f","companyId":"520ceb4e-315c-4a50-9335-cb3d46660219","role":"founder","roleTitle":"Co-founder & CEO","startDate":null,"endDate":null,"currentRole":true,"roleBasis":"reported_not_verified","createdAt":"2026-08-23T23:10:38.946Z","company":{"slug":"slingshot-aerospace","name":"Slingshot Aerospace"}}],"boardRoles":[],"investorRoles":[],"foundings":[]}