—Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has named a new space commander to lead the charge on his ambitious Stratolaunch project. He’s tapped Charles Beames — a Department of Defense veteran and Air Force Academy grad —as executive director of Stratolaunch.
“Stratolaunch is the next step in America’s drive for even more viable and flexible commercial space transportation and is positioned to transform orbital access with its innovative air-launch system,” said Beames. “I’m honored to join Vulcan at this critical moment and look forward to realizing Stratolaunch’s vision.”
Stratolaunch is looking to begin testing of its flight and launch systems in 2016, with full deployment in 2018. Beames will oversee technical and business operations for Stratolaunch, an aircraft that includes six 747 engines and a wingspan greater than the length of a football field that’s designed to launch rockets into space from 30,000 feet.
Beames previously served as the Principal Director, Space and Intelligence, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, responsible for space and national intelligence programs executed by the Department of Defense.
—Bsquare has appointed Jerry D. Chase — the former CEO of Lantronix and Terayon— to the role of president and CEO. The 54-year had been serving as interim CEO of the Bellevue software company since Sept. 2013.
“We are pleased with the significant progress that Jerry, as interim CEO, and the management team have made in putting the company on a sound financial footing and in developing our new strategy,” said Bsquare Chairman Andrew Harries. “We are confident with Jerry as CEO, our team will continue to improve our licensing and professional engineering services businesses, and grow our capabilities in the emerging Internet of Things (IoT) market.”
Bsquare stock was down more than two percent in trading today after the company on Tuesday posted revenue growth of 10 percent to $25.8 million during the fourth quarter and a net loss of $23,000.
—Trulia has hired John Whitney, a former vice president at ListHub who has worked in real estate organizations in California and New Mexico, to help bolster relationships with multiple listing services across the country. As director of business development, Whitney will work with MLSes to ensure high-quality listing data. “Trulia continues to invest in providing the best listing data because accurate listings are not only fundamental to a good consumer experience, but generate the highest quality of leads for agents and brokers,” Trulia spokesman Matt Flegal wrote in a blog post announcing Whitney’s appointment.
—Venture capitalist Cameron Myhrvold has been named to the board of Seeq, a Seattle startup that’s looking to derive insights from sensor networks in industrial deployments. Myhrvold, a partner with Ignition Partners, is an individual investor in the company. Seeq — led by former Insitu Group CEO Steve Sliwa — raised $6 million in funding in November. It also named Michael Risse as vice president of emerging marketing.
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