Patricia Cooper

Patricia Cooper is a leading expert on satellite communications, regulation and space policy, and is the founder of the space consultancy, Constellation Advisory, LLC.

For six years, Cooper served as the Vice President of Satellite Government Affairs at Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX). In this role, Patricia founded the regulatory and policy efforts to enable the dynamic growth of Starlink, a non-geostationary satellite constellation for global high-speed broadband direct to consumers. Patricia built and led a nimble team to secure licenses and approvals in the U.S. and internationally for spectrum, communications, space operations and imagery, as well as to promote sensible updates to rules for spectrum, telecom and competition in order to support the new generation of satellite networks. During Patricia’s tenure, Starlink received FCC licenses for over 12,000 satellites and won approval to provide broadband in more than 15 countries. After its first full year of service, Starlink had deployed 1,700+ satellites and 100,000+ active customers, with 500,000+ pre-registered.

Prior to SpaceX, Patricia represented Intelsat as its Vice President of Government Affairs & Policy, heading up U.S. and international government affairs and U.S. Congressional lobbying activities for the world’s second largest geostationary satellite fleet. For the previous seven years, Patricia led the Satellite Industry Association (SIA), the leading trade organization for satellite operators, manufacturers and service providers. As SIA President, Patricia advocated for the industry in regulatory and national security arenas, and spearheaded a successful bipartisan, bi-cameral legislative initiative to reform export controls for satellites.

Patricia previously served at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s International Bureau, both as Senior Satellite Competition Advisor and Branch Chief for Regional & Bilateral Affairs. Before that, Patricia directed international market access for two start-ups – CoreExpress, an Internet fiber infrastructure company, and PanAmSat Corporation, a disruptor in the early geostationary satellite services market that gained global prominence and eventually merged with Intelsat. She began her career at the U.S. Department of Commerce as an International Trade Specialist for the satellite industry and telecom markets in Latin America.

Cooper is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Space, the Hague Institute of Justice’s Off World Council, and the advisory committee for the International Astronomical Union’s Centre for the Protection of Dark & Quiet Skies. She previously served on expert advisory committees for the FCC, U.S. Departments of State, Commerce and Homeland Security, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the International Telecommunications Union. She has testified often before the U.S. Congress and participates regularly in ITU and United Nations fora on spectrum, space and economic development.

Patricia holds a Master’s Degree with Distinction in International Economics from the John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and Bachelor’s Degrees in Political Science and German from Kansas State University (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa).

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