Mandy Vaughn

Vaughn began flying aged 11 and earned her pilots license aged 18.^[1] She studied mechanical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).^[2] She stayed at MIT for her graduate studies and earned a master's degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 2002.^[2] At MIT, Vaughn went through the Reserve Officers Training Course (ROTC).^[3] Whilst at MIT Vaughn relaunched the skydiving club, and has since completed more than 700 sky dives.^[1][4]

In 2000 Vaughn joined the United States Air Force.^[5] She joined Hill Air Force Base as a developmental engineer in the intercontinental ballistic missiles system program office in 2002.^[1] From 2004 she worked at the Los Angeles Air Force Base in the Space Superiority Systems Directorate.^[5] Vaughn worked with the General Dynamics Mission Systems Space and Intelligence directorate, where was responsible for space control and investment portfolios.^[5][2]

In 2015 Vaughn joined Virgin Orbit as Senior Director of Business Development.^[5] She created the business program for LauncherOne for commercial and government clients.^[5] Vaughn is a member of the National Space Council's User Advisory Group.^[5][6][7] She was appointed director of VOX Space in 2017. In November 2017 the first Defence Department agency account was announced.^[8] VOX Space focus on servicing government contracts for Virgin Orbit.^[2] Vaughn has climbed Kilimanjaro and Aconcagua.^[1]