Dennis Woodfork

Dennis Woodfork is the mission area executive for National Security Space at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). In this role, he is responsible for APL programs that focus on space solutions to meet critical national security challenges. Mr. Woodfork has a long track record of impactful leadership across national security space programs, including APL efforts to advance test and evaluation range operations, digital infrastructure, and on-orbit range instrumentation for the U.S. Space Force and its mission partners. He has also provided crucial space policy and strategy advice to Department of Defense senior leadership to meet time-critical requests for astronaut recovery efforts, long-term space investment, global joint force actions, and technical expertise on a space debris removal road map—all to ensure the nation’s success in the space domain. He previously served as deputy mission area executive for National Security Space, leading several cross-functional teams and directly supporting combatant commander priorities at U.S. Space Command in the areas of offensive and defensive space operations, cyber operations, and multi-domain effects. Prior to joining APL in 2016, Mr. Woodfork served as a member of the technical staff of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, where he made technical and leadership contributions in the fields of space asset protection, navigation, and mission design. Mr. Woodfork is an Air Force veteran and a reservist since 2008, currently serving as a colonel. He earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy, a master’s degree in astronautical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland.