Experienced Aerospace Leader Rachel McKay Joins Slingshot as VP of Services Delivery

Slingshot Aerospace has announced that Rachel McKay has joined the team as the new Vice President of Services Delivery to focus on customer success and program growth. With nearly two decades of experience in technical leadership, Rachel brings a passion for developing cutting-edge aerospace technologies. Her contributions have spanned from scientific instruments in space, to UAVs on the battlefield - always striving to deliver defense tech products to help end-users around the globe.

“Space has been my passion since I was a young ‘nerd’ at Space Camp, and I’ve been eager to return to the space industry,” said Rachel McKay. “When I discovered the opportunity at Slingshot, I was thrilled to find a role that perfectly aligns my background in space with my expertise in defense program management and AI object detection missions. The company’s mission, focus on people, and impactful products make joining the team such an exciting opportunity.”

Rachel joins Slingshot from Overwatch Imaging, where she served as Chief Operations Officer. In that role, she led operational excellence, successfully executed customer contracts, and fostered a culture of innovation and collaboration. Before that, Rachel was the Chief Systems Engineer at Insitu, a Boeing subsidiary, where she oversaw the development of autonomous systems for the ScanEagle and Integrator/RQ-21A Blackjack Unmanned Aerial Systems. Her earlier work at Lockheed Martin involved developing space-based solar telescopes for NASA, including optical components for the Solar X-Ray Imager and the Solar UltraViolet Imager on the GOES satellites.

Rachel holds a Master of Engineering in Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Systems from the University of Michigan, along with a Master of Science in Systems Engineering and an MBA from San Jose State University.

"We are thrilled to welcome Rachel to the Slingshot team," said Tim Solms, CEO of Slingshot Aerospace. "Her extensive experience in aerospace and defense, coupled with her proven leadership in driving operational excellence, will be instrumental in propelling our company forward. Rachel’s passion for space and her dedication to customer success perfectly align with our mission. She is a great addition to our team.”

Learn more about joining Slingshot in our mission of making space safe, sustainable, and secure.