Susan Raitt is the new director of business development at Spaceport America. Courtesy/Spaceport America
SPACEPORT AMERICA News:
Spaceport America has announced the appointment of Susan Raitt as director of business development.
Starting July 24, Raitt will be charged with attracting new aerospace customers to the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport. As Business Development lead, she has been instrumental in working with Spaceport America’s tenants, while securing new customers such as Swift Engineering, C-6 Launch Systems, West Point, Intuitive Machines and Stratodynamics.
Raitt replaces Scott McLaughlin who was appointed executive director of Spaceport America in March 2021.
“I am pleased to announce Susan Raitt’s selection as director of business development for Spaceport America,” McLaughlin said. “We have received tremendous exposure with the recent Virgin Galactic flights, and activity by other customers such as Stratodynamics, AeroVironment and C6 Launch Systems. New Mexico’s homegrown spaceport is clearly in the spotlight and Ms. Raitt knows how to take advantage of this to attract new customers.”
Raitt, a Rutgers University graduate hailing from New Jersey, has been a part of the Spaceport America team since January 2016. She has drawn on her knowledge and background in events, sales and marketing to attract launch customers and non-aerospace business to Spaceport America to include racing, photography, film production and commercials. One of her most recognized achievements is helping bring the International Rocket Engineering Contest, now known as the Spaceport America Cup, to New Mexico in 2017.
“The goal of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, as the operator of Spaceport America, is to bring new aerospace commerce and companies to the State of New Mexico, and support STEM activities to grow the workforce and the industry for New Mexicans,” Raitt said. “I am passionate about our state and providing new and sustainable industry for its citizens.”
Raitt has brought her passion for hospitality and guest service to the Spaceport America team with her long-term focus on increasing the value of the Spaceport America brand to drive commercial endeavors. She has worked with aerospace companies across the globe managing operational requirements, contracts and invoicing. Before joining Spaceport America, Raitt was recognized as Meeting Professional International’s Supplier of the Year while working at several boutique hotels on the East Coast and was sales director for the International Symposium for Commercial and Personal Spaceflight (ISPCS).