Robert Long serves as Space Florida’s president and CEO, leading the state’s aerospace finance and development authority to advance the aerospace industry and solidify the state as the premier global and interplanetary capital for aerospace commerce. He is a proven leader with more than 25 years of experience overseeing large organizations across the aerospace spectrum from launch operations and mobility to logistics and spaceport operations. Long has spent his career improving and enhancing the transportation to, from, and in space, managing complex aerospace programs, leveraging innovative technologies to improve both government and private sector outcomes, and developing new business models and operating concepts to create value for the commercial aerospace industry.
Long has nearly two decades of experience crafting defense industrial, aerospace, and fiscal policy and strategies, which included key roles advising the Defense Department’s Chief Technology Officer and senior Defense Department space leaders. He has a long track record of building partnerships across and within government & industry toward mutually beneficial outcomes.
Long most recently served as the Commander for Space Launch Delta 30 and Western Launch and Test Range, Vandenberg Space Force Base. In this role he managed $8.4 billion in assets, a $280 million annual budget, installations spanning more than 118,000 acres, and oversaw 11,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel.
Long received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Washington, earned a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and has master’s degree from the College of Naval Command and Staff, the School for Advanced Air and Space Studies and the Eisenhower School. He retired as a colonel from the United States Space Force in July 2023.
Howard Haug joined Space Florida in 2008, and currently serves as Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer for the company. As such, Howard is responsible for the oversight of Space Florida’s assets and investments. Prior to this position, he served as Space Florida’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
Howard has proven financial management, reporting and controls management expertise, and has been successful in the design of competitively profitable business models. He is also skilled at selling business plans as well as maintaining investor and employee support. Howard is recognized for combining financial, strategic planning and operational experience with executive leadership, and is experienced in mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, public placements, SEC reporting and growth initiatives.
From 2003 to 2007, Howard was Senior Vice President, Administration and CFO for Enterprise Florida, a public-private partnership responsible for leading Florida’s statewide economic development.
Before Enterprise Florida, Howard worked for Bellsouth Corporation, now AT&T, from 1989 to 2002. At Bellsouth, he held a number of financial and operational leadership roles in wireless and video operations. He spent his last two years as the financial expert for the company’s overall strategic planning efforts.
In addition to his extensive experience with Bellsouth and Enterprise Florida, Howard held key positions with leading international professional services firms Coopers & Lybrand, now PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Ernst & Young.
Howard holds a Master of Science in accountancy and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Central Florida, as well as a Bachelor of Science in economics from Villanova University.
Denise Swanson joined Space Florida in 2006, and currently serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Administration Officer. In these roles, Denise directs all financial aspects of the organization, including accounting practices, budgeting, financial planning, interface with the financial community, financial analysis and monitoring of financial performance.
Prior to these roles, Denise served as Space Florida’s Controller.
Denise’s background includes more than 12 years in public and governmental accounting for the aerospace economic development industry.
She holds a Master in business administration from Webster University and a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Central Florida.
Ron Lau serves as Space Florida’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Development & Capital Programs. Lau joined Space Florida in 2021 as the executive lead focused on growing access to new capital sources, managing Space Florida’s portfolio and further expanding the organization’s statewide reach.
He has been involved with growing companies in emerging industries since 1995. His background includes executive and advisory roles in venture and private equity-backed technology companies in addition to previous product and strategy responsibilities at large telecommunications companies.
Prior to joining Space Florida, Ron co-founded Venture X Group (VXG), a venture planning and execution firm which helped grow more than 120 businesses, ranging from startup to publicly traded companies, with a number having significant successful exits. As part of his role at VXG, he provided fractional executive experience such as COO, CFO and corporate development roles for clients. Over the past two decades, he has also served in full-time executive roles at several venture and private equity backed technology companies in which he was involved with their formation as well as raising capital for those ventures.
Lau began his consulting career while attending school, working with Deloitte & Touche and Ernst & Young – two of the Big Six accounting firms at the time. He continued with Ernst & Young financial advisory services group, supporting over 30 mergers and acquisition transactions, primarily in healthcare and technology. Following his tenure at Ernst & Young, Lau worked at BellSouth in a variety of roles. There, he worked in strategy for the cellular/wireless business, developing new products and managing a wireless spectrum auction. His final role at BellSouth was the general manager for BellSouth Entertainment’s South Florida operation covering Broward and Dade counties.
Ron holds a Juris Doctorate from Emory University’s School of Law as well as a Master of Business Administration from Emory’s Goizueta Business School. He received a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Connecticut.
Todd Romberger is Senior Vice President of the Spaceports Business Unit at Space Florida, where he is responsible for implementation of strategic objectives across all spaceport related functions of the organization including sales and client fulfillment, spaceport operations, infrastructure planning and development, and facilities management. Space Florida’s portfolio of spaceport assets includes the former Shuttle Landing Facility, Launch Complex 20, Launch Complex 46, Exploration Park, the Space Life Sciences Laboratory, and the Commercial Crew & Cargo Processing Facility, among other existing and future developments.
Prior to his current role, Todd served as Vice President of Commercial Space for Space Florida, where he was responsible for Space Florida’s business development activities in the emerging space tech market, leading capture and execution of several marquee Space Florida projects including Airbus OneWeb Satellites’ high volume satellite production facility, financing of in-space manufacturing equipment for Made In Space, Firefly Aerospace’s east coast launch and manufacturing site development, and the transition of the former Orbiter Processing Facility 3 into commercial operations. Todd joined Space Florida in 2011, working closely with Masten Space Systems to pave the way for vertical landing at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport.
Prior to joining Space Florida, Todd held operational roles throughout the commercial space industry including as a satellite operator of the Genesis I and Genesis II experimental expandable spacecraft at Bigelow Aerospace, and as a weightless flight coach for ZERO-G where he has accumulated over 500 weightless parabolas on commercial flights. He has also held engineering roles at Lockheed Martin and ASRC Aerospace. Todd was the first person to taste test beer designed for consumption in space in a microgravity environment, and has served as a crew member of the Mars Desert Research Station.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Central Florida.
Anna Alexopoulos Farrar is a seasoned communications professional who brings senior oversight, energy and focus to every project. Anna leads all communications and branding at Space Florida and is charged with amplifying the brand through comprehensive communications strategies. She has more than 15 years of communications experience in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Anna most recently served as the global communications lead at a publicly traded company. Prior to this role, she served in senior-level positions at the Florida Department of Financial Services, working with two Florida chief financial officers. She has extensive experience in developing and executing full-scale branded communications campaigns, message development, brand architecture creation, and crisis communications.
Anna received a B.A. in Political Science and Social Sciences from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and a M.S. in Communications from Purdue University. She is frequently asked to speak on communications best practices, including presenting at her alma mater, FAU, and at Boston University.
Dale Ketcham serves as Space Florida’s Vice President Government & External Relations. In this role, Ketcham utilizes existing and developing networks to advantage the State of Florida as the recognized leader in the exploration, national security and commercial space marketplace through innovation, collaboration, and influence.
Dale spent 40 years at the Cape working with major contractors, 8(a)’s, the U.S. Congress, Enterprise Florida and the University of Central Florida.
After receiving his degree in philosophy from the University of Florida, Dale returned to Cocoa Beach. He worked for Rockwell International on the Shuttle Program for 10 years, then spent four years as District Director for then Congressman Jim Bacchus, who represented the Cape area on the Space Subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Dale then returned to the private sector, becoming Director of Business Development for AJT & Associates, a private engineering firm working with NASA, the U.S. Navy and Air Force as well as at airports around the country.
Immediately prior to Space Florida, Dale worked for the University of Central Florida (UCF) as Director of the Spaceport Research & Technology Institute (SRTI) and as the Director of Space and Defense Programs with Enterprise Florida, the State of Florida’s economic development agency.
Matt Chesnut joined Space Florida in December of 2018 as a member of the business development team. Utilizing his experience in economic development in Florida, Matt works closely with economic development organizations, airport organizations, and local governments in utilizing Space Florida’s tool kit in the attraction of aerospace companies. Matt’s role also involves working with aerospace related businesses who are considering locating or expanding in Florida.
Before joining Space Florida, Matt worked with Team Volusia Economic Development Corporation in Daytona Beach as the Vice-President of Business Intelligence and Operations and as the Director of Economic Development for the City of Titusville, FL. Prior to working in the economic development field, he served as City Manager for Maryville, MO.
Matt holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and a Bachelor of Science in government from Northwest Missouri State University. In 2012, Matt earned his Certified Economic Developer status through the International Economic Development Council.
Mike Miller is the VP of External Affairs and Workforce Integration. He plays a vital role in advocating for the mission of Space Florida both in Tallahassee and Washington, DC. Mike is also tasked with guiding the organization to access and enhance the skilled labor force in Florida through partnerships with the Department of Education and companies seeking to relocate to Florida or expand their current operations in the state.
Mr. Miller has a long career in public service, spanning nearly 30 years. After graduating the University of Florida, Mike began working on Capitol Hill for US Senator Connie Mack III. During his years on Capitol Hill he also worked for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and the House Agriculture Committee.
Relocating to Florida in 1998, Mike worked for several members of both the US House and Senate from Florida, including, Bill McCollum, Ric Keller, Connie Mack IV, Tom Rooney and Katherine Harris as well as U.S. Senators Mel Martinez and Marco Rubio.
After the 2010 election of Senator Marco Rubio to the US Senate, Mike stepped away from politics and worked at Rollins College in Winter Park as a Development Officer within the Athletic Dept.
In 2014, Mike ran and won a seat in the Florida Legislature as a Representative of the 47th District (Orange County). He served on Ways & Means, Commerce, Judicial Appropriations Committees among others. In 2018 Mike ran for US Congress but was unsuccessful. He subsequently went to work as the Chief of External Affairs for the Florida Virtual School until his appointment to Space Florida.
He currently serves on the boards for Goodwill Industries of Central Florida, the Alzheimer’s Association, AMI Kids Orlando (an afterschool programs for at-risk kids), and the Florida Network (a statewide association representing 29 agencies that serve homeless, runaways, and troubled youth ages and their families). Mr. Miller has a bachelor’s degree in American History from the University of Florida, and an MBA from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College.
As Vice President, Environmental Health and Safety, Pete provides direction to Space Florida personnel, contractors and tenants ensuring that the organization’s facilities comply with appropriate environmental and safety regulations. He also works to integrate safety and environmental programs and initiatives seamlessly into daily operational processes. Pete manages the operations and management contract for the Space Life Sciences Lab, Exploration Park and the SLF.
During his time at Space Florida, Pete has assisted with the negotiations and transitioning period for the SLF, as well as the SLF development and FAA licensing focusing on environmental assessment for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. Other projects have included development of Exploration Park, working with the Architectural Review Committee, and environmental health and safety oversight of Space Florida construction projects. Pete holds technical expertise in environmental and safety laws and regulations.
Prior to Space Florida, Pete was an Environmental Engineer at Kennedy Space Center, working as program manager for Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures and Storage Tanks. He also worked as a Environmental Manager for Delaware North’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and as Environmental Specialist for Raleigh Durham Airport Authority.
In addition to his role at Space Florida, Pete was also appointed to the Local Emergency Planning Committee District VI.
Pete earned his Bachelor of Science in environmental sciences from Stetson University.
Steve Szabo serves as Space Florida’s Vice President, Spaceport Development . In this position, Steve is responsible for directing spaceport development and planning activities to implement the Florida Spaceport System Plan and the Cape Canaveral Spaceport Complex Master Plan. These plans provide the framework to guide public and private investment into Florida’s spaceport infrastructure.
Steve holds 20 years of infrastructure development experience, and is a licensed professional engineer.
In previous positions, Steve served in project manager and engineering roles for more than 50 infrastructure projects at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, Kennedy Space Center and Patrick Air Force Base. He has also managed contracts for projects with municipalities on the Space Coast and with the State of Florida environmental and water resource agencies.
Steve holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Auburn University.
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