Brad Head
Managing Director, International Partnerships
Brad Head is a widely recognized leader in the field of international space cooperation, bringing nearly three decades of expertise in security cooperation, international relations, and defense strategy. Brad’s career in the U.S. Air and Space Forces was marked by a series of high-impact leadership roles, where his strategic vision and diplomacy helped advance U.S. interests across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Throughout his distinguished career, Brad has driven major international defense initiatives. As Chief of Defense Planning at the U.S. Mission to NATO, he was instrumental in reshaping NATO’s defense posture in response to the Russian annexation of Crimea. He negotiated critical agreements that ensured Allied nations met defense spending goals and capability targets during a pivotal time for transatlantic security. Later, as Chief of the Office of Defense Cooperation in Brussels, Brad managed all U.S. security cooperation efforts with Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union, and NATO. His leadership resulted in a landmark $5.1 billion F-35 sale to Belgium, and he negotiated the first-ever Space Memorandum of Understanding with Luxembourg, bolstering NATO’s satellite communications capabilities.
Brad’s operational expertise is equally notable. He deployed to Iraq in 2007 to help rebuild the Iraqi Air Force, contributing to the stabilization of a key regional ally. In 2010, he deployed to Afghanistan, leading efforts to assess and improve the capabilities of the Afghan Air Force. His broad understanding of global diplomacy and defense partnerships was further strengthened when he became the first U.S. Air Force Fellow at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Nairobi, Kenya. In that role, Brad worked closely with interagency partners on humanitarian initiatives and international development efforts, aligning them with U.S. foreign policy objectives.
Following his retirement as a colonel in 2022, Brad served as the Director of International Affairs at Space Operations Command (SpOC), where he oversaw the command’s global partnerships and space cooperation efforts. In this role, Brad was the principal advisor on political-military and foreign policy matters, managing foreign disclosure programs, arms control treaty compliance, and foreign military sales. He played a pivotal role in fostering global collaboration to advance the strategic goals of the U.S. Space Force in an increasingly contested space environment.
At Elara Nova, Brad leverages his extensive experience to drive international partnerships and guide clients through the complexities of global space cooperation. His ability to blend strategic vision with hands-on leadership makes him an invaluable asset to the company’s mission of advancing space technology and fostering cross-border collaborations.
Brad is married to Meredith, and they have four children: Conner, Taryn, Gavin, and Rylan. His dedication to building strong global partnerships and advancing space cooperation continues to be the hallmark of his career, making him a key leader in shaping the future of the international space industry.