WASHINGTON — Space technology startup True Anomaly has appointed former Pentagon official Frank Calvelli to its board of directors, the company announced Feb. 4.
The move follows the recent hiring of another former defense official, Stephen Kitay, as senior vice president, underscoring the company’s push into the defense sector.
Calvelli most recently served as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, where he was responsible for overseeing Space Force technology development and procurement programs. His tenure marked the first time the position, created under the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, was filled by a Senate-confirmed official.
Before his role at the Pentagon, Calvelli spent nearly a decade as Principal Deputy Director of the National Reconnaissance Office overseeing the development and operation of the U.S. government’s spy satellites. He also held senior positions at the Central Intelligence Agency.
Founded in 2022 and based in Colorado, True Anomaly specializes in advanced space domain awareness and military training satellites. Its flagship product, the Jackal satellite, is designed for rendezvous and proximity operations, a capability increasingly valued as space becomes a contested domain among global powers.
“True Anomaly is at a critical stage of growth, and Frank will provide an invaluable perspective,” co-founder and CEO Even Rogers said in a statement.
Calvelli’s appointment comes as the startup prepares for its upcoming “Victus Haze” mission under contract with the U.S. Space Force. The operation, part of the military’s Tactically Responsive Space initiative, aims to test advanced in-orbit capabilities with True Anomaly’s Jackal satellite working alongside a Rocket Lab spacecraft.
