Satcoms Innovation Group (SIG) and SAE Media Group have announced that Melanie Stricklan is the winner of the second Women in MilSatCom Innovation Award. Melanie is the co-founder of Slingshot Aerospace, Executive in Residence at Space Foundation, and Executive Director at Space Workforce for Tomorrow, and is a highly deserving winner of this award recognizing women who are innovators across the military satellite communication industry.
The award was presented by SIG’s Managing Director, Helen Weedon, at the Women in MilSatCom Forum, during the Global MilSatCom Conference, in London. The Forum provides a platform for women across the MILSATCOM industry to connect, collaborate and celebrate the trailblazers driving innovation in defense and space.
With more than 20 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, Melanie brings unmatched operational insight to the commercial space sector. Melanie has redefined the operational backbone of MILSATCOM through her visionary leadership at Slingshot Aerospace, and has built a space domain awareness platform used widely by commercial LEO operators to prevent collisions, manage orbital traffic, and ensure mission continuity.
Melanie has translated the knowledge and experience gained throughout her distinguished career into dual-use technologies now deployed by NASA, the U.S. Space Force, and allied defense agencies. Her work bridges the gap between commercial innovation and military readiness, accelerating the adoption of secure, interoperable SATCOM architectures.
Hester Castle, Conference Producer, SAE Media Group, said, “It’s been a real privilege again this year to honor the remarkable women who are shaping MILSATCOM. By celebrating their excellence, we hope to inspire others to follow in their footsteps and contribute to this vital industry.”
Helen Weedon, Managing Director, SIG, said, “Now in its second year, this award recognizes and celebrates the amazing women who are outstanding innovators across the MILSATCOM industry. I’m sure I speak for all the judges when I say that it was incredibly difficult to pick a winner because the nominations all showed outstanding merit. I would like to congratulate Melanie on winning the award which reflects her exceptional contribution to the industry.”