Carl Campbell began launching model rockets when he was 12 years old. This love of space began his trajectory on a distinguished career where he has facilitated the launch of more than 200 payloads across more than 100 missions. He’s now brought his passion and expertise to SEOPS as a Mission Manager and integration expert.
Campbell’s storied career includes a four year stint in the U.S. Air Force, and time at McDonnell Douglas and Boeing as a flight test engineer. In 2000, he transitioned to rocket integration, and in 2005 he moved to Cape Canaveral to work for ULA. As an expert on the electrical side of the payload integration, he handled payload interface and fairing electrical systems, overseeing the separation of the payloads and fairings from the Delta IV, Atlas V and Delta II rockets. He also trained and mentored the next generation of integration specialists. After 13 years at ULA, Campbell set out to find new rocket challenges, and found them at Rocket Lab, where he managed integration for the New Zealand launcher’s first 20 missions. He also provided his experience and solved new integration challenges at ABL and Virgin Orbit before attempting to retire in 2022.
Retirement ‘didn’t take’ according to Campbell, and his passion for rockets brought him back to the industry…and to SEOPS.
SEOPS’ mission and corporate culture were an immediate draw for Campbell, as mission management and integration are not separated by levels of administration or silos. “It was compelling to come work for a company that is ‘all hands on deck’ and moves fast,” says Campbell. “There’s no bureaucracy at all, we just all work together to solve problems and give the customers the best service possible.”
Campbell thrives on educating the customers on really understanding the intricacies of interfacing a payload with a launch vehicle. While customers are always the expert on their spacecraft, exactly how it will smoothly integrate with the vehicle is Campbell’s wheelhouse.
SEOPS is fortunate to have Campbell working on our missions and customer integrations. For Campbell, the most satisfying part of the job is when the satellite is deployed and on orbit. “But my favorite part of the job is being hands on with the customer, guiding them through that final last step before launch,” says Campbell. The passion that started at age 12 is still there, bringing our customers mission success.
If you’d like to access integration expertise like Campbell’s at an early stage in your mission planning, consider our LaunchLock program. Securing a guaranteed launch up to three years in advance and getting early guidance from experts like Campbell will pave the way for a smoother integration and ensure a successful launch.
