![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/capella_space_our_team-01-1440x972.jpg)
What Sets us Apart:
- We built our business around customer applications and needs
- Our constellation is rapidly scalable
- We have a significant focus on quality
- Our services, platform, and delivery systems are user centric, built on modern technology, and easy to use.
- We move fast.
- We are not constrained by legacy designs and “big aerospace” approaches
A Pioneering Team. A Bold Vision.
Decades of experience in aerospace and technology have taught us that true innovation required fresh eyes and open minds. Our leadership team balances what is possible with deep domain expertise to realize Capella’s vision for a world illuminated and empowered by SAR.
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/capella_space_our_team-02-1440x972.jpg)
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Frank_Backes_A_web-640x640.png)
Frank Backes
Chief Executive Officer
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/justin_mcnaughton_cfo.jpg)
Justin McNaughton
Chief Financial Officer
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/capellaspace_executives_web_christian-640x640.jpg)
Christian Lenz
Chief Technical Officer
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Paul-Stephen-CIO-640x640.jpg)
Paul Stephen
Chief Information and Security Officer
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Capella-ExecPorts-DanC-1045-WEB-640x640.jpg)
Dan Connors
General Counsel
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/capellaspace_executives_web_nate-640x640.jpg)
Nate Ricklin
Vice President, Platform Engineering
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/rachel_cheetham_web-640x640.jpg)
Rachel Cheetham
Vice President, Business Operations
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/gordon_farquharson_vp_radar-1.jpg)
Gordon Farquharson
Vice President, Sensor Systems
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/brandon_smith_vp_space_systems.jpg)
Brandon Smith
Vice President, Space Systems
Board of Directors
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/capellaspace_executives_web_payam-640x640.jpg)
Payam Banazadeh
Founder
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/MOC-DCVC-headshot25-640x640.jpg)
Matt O’Connell
Chairman of the Board
Operating Partner, DCVC
Operating Partner, DCVC
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Bobby_Yazdani_Headshot_19P0618_SQ1_Web-640x640.jpg)
Bobby Yazdani
Founder & Partner, Cota Capital
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/matt_ocko_2-640x627.jpg)
Matt Ocko
Managing Partner, DCVC
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/scaled-peter-tague-640x640.jpg)
Peter Tague
Managing Partner, US Innovative Technology (USIT)
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ken_gonzalez_headshot_2-640x640.jpg)
Ken Gonzalez
Managing Director, NightDragon
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/roger-mason-sq-640x640.jpg)
Roger Mason
President, Peraton Space & Intelligence Sector
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Pete_Williams_Headshot_19P0582_SQ1_Web-640x640.jpg)
Pete Williams
Partner and COO, Cota Capital
Government Advisory Board
![Robert Ashley](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Bob-Ashley_Web-640x640.jpg)
Robert Ashley
Chairman of Capella Space Government Advisory Board
![Clayton Hutmacher](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Clayton-Hutmacher-Headshot_Web-640x640.jpg)
Clayton Hutmacher
Former Director of Operations in the U.S. Special Operation Command
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Loverro2-640x640.jpg)
Douglas Loverro
Former Deputy Asst Secretary of Defense, Space Policy
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Gil-Kilnger-GAB2.jpg)
Gil Klinger
Former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Space)
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Jeffrey-Harris2.jpg)
Jeffrey Harris
Former Director of the National Reconnaissance Office
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/gus-guastella-sq-e1701441600312.jpg)
Lieutenant General Joseph “Gus” Guastella
Former Headquarters Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations
Join us in our journey to develop a richer understanding of our planet.
![](https://www.capellaspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Capella-Space-Careers-1440x960.jpg)