Jacob N. Yates, Ph.D.

"Our speaker today is a leader in the intersection of national security space and planetary

science. A retired Navy Commander and designated Space Operations Officer, he has spent

over 30 years managing high-stakes missions—from directing space indications and

warnings at Vandenberg Space Force Base to heading critical EMI mitigation for billion-

dollar satellite constellations at SPAWAR.

He has a remarkable track record of taking advanced technology from conceptual research

to global operations for agencies like the NRO and US Space Command. Today, he serves

as the Principal Investigator for Project ARMOR, where he is leading the charge in

characterizing hypervelocity impact risks to future lunar infrastructure. Please join me in

welcoming the Founder of Mintaka Space Systems and the Mariner Space Institute, Dr.

Jacob Yates."

Biography:

Jacob N. Yates, Ph.D. Th

Principal & Founder, Mintaka Space Systems LLC | Retired U.S. Navy Commander

Dr. Jacob Yates is a senior systems engineer and space operations expert with over 30 years of

experience navigating the intersection of national security space, advanced technology, and space

science. As the Founder and Principal of Mintaka Space Systems LLC, he provides specialized

technical advisory for mission-critical satellite constellations, with a focus on Resilient

ISR/SATCOM, Space Domain Awareness (SDA), and Cis-Lunar Position, Navigation, and

Timing (PNT).

A retired U.S. Navy Commander (O-5) and designated Space Operations Officer, Dr. Yates served

as a Deputy Director at what is now known as Vandenberg Space Force Base, managing resilient

support for space indications and warnings. While at the Space and Naval Warfare Command

(SPAWAR), he headed crucial electromagnetic interference (EMI) mitigation and launch support

for a billion-dollar narrowband satellite constellation at GEO. Following his military service, he

held senior leadership roles including Chief Systems Engineer for the Space Superiority Portfolio

at L3Harris and Senior Program Manager at SAIC/Engility, where he supported the NRO, AFRL,

and US Space Command.

Currently, Dr. Yates is the Principal Investigator for Project ARMOR, directing grant-funded

hypervelocity impact research to analyze material resilience for future lunar infrastructure. He also

serves as a U.S. representative for the joint ESA/ASI Science Working Group, guiding the

scientific and engineering objectives for the Lunar Meteoroid Impact Observer (LUMIO) mission

at Earth-Moon L2.

His early career included significant contributions to the space shuttle program, where he

supported payload operations aboard several missions (STS-76, STS-81, STS-85, and STS-99).

Dr. Yates holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Sciences from the University of North Dakota, an MS in

Space Studies, and a B.S. in Geological Sciences from San Diego State University. Most recently,

he founded the Mariner Space Institute, a San Diego-based STEM institution specializing in

research and development for space science and engineering.

Mintaka Space Systems LLC