FCC Space Bureau Launched, Chief Named

The FCC has officially launched its new Space Bureau and Office of International Affairs. At a kickoff event Tuesday at the agency headquarters, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel thanked the outstanding public servants who will staff these reorganized offices and announced key leadership appointments: Julie Kearney as Chief of the Space Bureau, Ethan Lucarelli as Chief of the Office of International Affairs, Ronald Repasi as Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology, and Joel Taubenblatt as Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.

“SIA strongly commends the continued leadership of Chairwoman Rosenworcel and the Commission’s recognition of the expanding importance of the commercial space industry."

SIA president Tom Stroup.

“The launch of these two fundamentally important Commission departments will succeed because of the FCC’s outstanding staff,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “These hard-working, talented professionals interface with our international counterparts, modernize our satellite and orbital debris rules, review license requests for undersea cables upon which international interconnectivity relies, and much more. I thank them for their service and thank all those across the agency that worked to make this reorganization a reality.”

FCC Space Bureau Leadership

The FCC Space Bureau and the Office of International Affairs became official upon publication in the Federal Register. With this transition, the International Bureau ceases to exist and becomes these two new offices.

Julie Kearney, the first Chief of the FCC’s new Space Bureau, joined the Commission in February as Senior Counsel to help lead this transition. Prior to her FCC work, she worked in the private sector for communications companies including Twilio, Loon (Alphabet), National Public Radio, MCI, the Consumer Technology Association, and in private legal practice. Julie earned her law degree from Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College.

The move was welcomed by the Satellite Industry Association. “SIA applauds the congressional committee approvals for the FCC’s restructuring plans and the Commission for its creation of the new Space Bureau and Office of International Affairs,” said SAI president Tom Stroup. “SIA strongly commends the continued leadership of Chairwoman Rosenworcel and the Commission’s recognition of the expanding importance of the commercial space industry."

(Source: FCC and SIA news releases. Images provided and from file)