Space / Hammond takes on chief executive role at spaceport
SAXAVORD Spaceport has announced that Scott Hammond will be its new chief executive following the death of co-founder Frank Strang.
Formerly the deputy CEO, Hammond will take over the running of the company as it prepares to host a first test flight by rocket company RFA from the site at Lamba Ness in Unst.
Debbie Strang, Saxa’s chief operating officer, will take over his role as deputy CEO.
Mairi Prior has also been appointed to the board as finance director.
Hammond said: “Of course these are not the circumstances in which I would wish to be taking over – Frank’s death has come as a huge blow both to myself as a long-standing friend and colleague and to everyone in the Saxa team.
“But it was Frank’s firm wish that we should complete the mission that he and I and Debbie set out on way back in 2017, of turning SaxaVord into a commercial success story.
“We have come a long way since then, with all the infrastructure and personnel in place, as well as the requisite licences, to become the UK’s and Europe’s leading vertical launch rocket site.
“I am honoured to have been chosen to lead the company and will continue to give my heart and soul to this project as CEO.
“I look forward to working closely with the team, our clients, investors, government and regulators to put the UK on the map as Europe’s gateway to space.”
Hammond was a co-founder with Frank and Debbie Strang of the original Shetland Space Centre, now SaxaVord Spaceport, in 2017.
A former RAF Tornado pilot, staff officer and flight commander, he played a critical role in the technical set up of the site, including trajectory analysis, rocket evaluation and operating procedures as well as leading the planning, design and build of the ground infrastructure to meet market needs.
The spaceport said Hammond was also a key liaison with government and regulatory agencies over the formulation of the UK regulations.
The spaceport announced earlier this month that CEO Frank Strang had died at the age of 67 less than a month after revealing he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
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