Derek Tournear (DOD photo by USMC Sgt. Taryn Escott, June 2021)
By Troy Turner
AUBURN – Auburn University recently announced the hiring of Derek Tournear, former director of the Space Development Agency, as its inaugural director of space innovation, signaling the university’s growing technology role in contributing to national security.
The Space Development Agency provides a critical function in the Department of Defense’s space acquisition services by helping to quickly deliver space-based capabilities to warfighters in the field.
The agency capitalizes on a business model that values speed and lowers costs by harnessing commercial development, and now Auburn looks to apply Tournear’s skills in those fields with the university’s involvement in the DOD, government and private enterprise space and defense sectors.
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“This is a home run hire for Auburn,” said Steve Taylor, Auburn University senior vice president for research and economic development. “Derek will play a critical role for Auburn, particularly with our space and defense partners, as the state of Alabama assumes an even more important role in securing our nation.”
The position, which will be located in Auburn’s Washington, D.C.-based office, will report to Jonathan Pettus, executive director of Auburn’s Applied Research Institute in Huntsville.
Pettus, who began his university role Feb. 1, is considered another home run hire for Auburn, having brought a wealth of experience to the university’s growing presence in the high-tech Huntsville region.
A July 2025 photo from the “topping-off ceremony” for a new 50,000-square-foot addition to the Auburn University Applied Research Institute. The addition is another sign of Auburn’s growing influence in space-centric Huntsville.
President Trump recently announced Huntsville as the future permanent home of U.S. Space Command’s headquarters and as an upcoming key contributor to the Golden Dome space-led missile defense concept.
Huntsville already is a defense and space development mecca, with entities such as the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command, the FBI, leading defense/space contractors and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center among the many that call the region home.
Jonathan Pettus (University of Alabama in Huntsville photo)
Pettus, before being hired by Auburn, worked 27 years at NASA in a variety of executive leadership roles including as NASA’s chief information officer and as the associate director of Marshall Space Flight Center. Prior to that, he retired from Dynetics/Leidos, where he led a business unit that included programs in space, hypersonics and cybersecurity solutions.
Adding Tournear to the team in D.C. widens Auburn’s already storied history with space research, development and exploration, and positions the university with greater branding and closer ties to U.S. government and military leadership.
Space, and cybersecurity
Auburn University also has a growing presence in Washington with its McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security office on Capitol Hill.
Former National Cyber Director Harry Coker, who worked in the White House, shown speaking at Auburn’s McCrary Institute Washington, D.C., offices in May 2024.
Cybersecurity plays a key role in all things space-related, including military assets. In September 2024, the institute announced it was adding the appointment of two veteran defense and policy executives.
Craig M. Whittinghill, a U.S. Navy veteran of 29 years, was named deputy director for applied research and services.
Whittinghill previously served as the director of information warfare at the U.S. Fleet Forces’ Command in Norfolk, Virginia, responsible for the information warfare disciplines of intelligence, cyber, cryptology, space, operations in the information environment and electronic warfare.
Other notable assignments included service as commander of the Joint Intelligence Operations Center at U.S. Cyber Command from 2019 to 2021 and information warfare commander for the USS Abraham Lincoln Strike Group from 2021 to 2022.
Kyle D. Klein, who served on Capitol Hill in a variety of senior policy roles for 12 years, was named deputy director for policy and partnerships.
“We are thrilled to add these two executives to our senior leadership,” Frank Cilluffo, McCrary Institute director, said in a 2024 university release. “Craig will lead a growing team of cyber experts as we expand cybersecurity services in support of government and industry. His deep experience and leadership on cyber and intelligence matters will be invaluable as we advance our efforts to better support the national security community.
“Kyle’s leadership as a former staff director of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security adds significant policy and legislative expertise as we further position the McCrary Institute as a hub and thought leader on all things cyber.”
McCrary Institute Director Frank Cilluffo, left, and Retired Adm. Michael Rogers, former commander of the U.S. Cyber Command and a former director of the National Security Agency, shown speaking during a McCrary-hosted event.
Tournear ‘the change agent’
Tournear’s appointment with Auburn became effective Sept. 8.
“We are thrilled to add someone to our team with the pedigree and background of Derek Tournear,” said Chris Roberts, Auburn University president. “It is exciting to have his expertise and knowledge base leading us in this new position.”
Tournear was named as the inaugural director of the Space Development Agency when it was established in March 2019. He grew the agency from 15 employees to more than 350 in four years, and he delivered six satellites in less than one year, 28 in less than two years and another 160 satellites in four years.
He also grew the budget from $20 million to $4.5 billion while taking the lead within the U.S. Space Force at delivering warfighting capabilities. For his efforts, he was recognized as “The Change Agent” within the Department of Defense.
“It is an honor and a privilege to join the Auburn Family in this exciting new role,” Tournear said. “Auburn has a national reputation for being a leading institution for research and instruction in the space and defense fields, and I am humbled to be a part of it.”
Derek Tournear, center-left with sign, shown while director of the Space Development Agency unveiling a SDA sign during the agency’s ribbon-cutting ceremony June 28, 2022, at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. (DOD photo)
Troy Turner is the founder, editor and senior consultant for AlaDefense.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. His bio can be found here.
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