Ginny Cevasco on Why Space Matters for National Security

One area where Cevasco has seen the government keep up—and lead—has been with women in the workforce, both at Booz Allen and in her previous government jobs.

In the intelligence community, it’s not unusual to have women in technical roles, Cevasco said. “All of my government bosses were women, and I was lucky enough to have amazing women mentors. When I looked up, I saw women in senior roles leading big programs and business areas.”

“Now I’m probably one of those people younger women are looking to,” she said. “So, it’s my responsibility to see they’re getting what they need to take on important roles that drive the mission forward.”

What does she suggest for women interested in a similar career path? Get a robust education, she advises, adding that a STEM degree opens the most doors. Be ready for continuous learning. And be open to taking risks, like raising your hand for a new role even if you don’t feel 100% prepared.

For several years when her children were younger, Cevasco worked part-time but kept this arrangement private. She now regrets not sharing this detail with her colleagues. “I was denying other women the chance to see that you can make this work—getting home in time to spend time with your kids or other priorities like elderly parents, your studies, or pets, while having a career.”

For Cevasco, such a career has been fueled by curiosity and commitment to a greater cause. “I love software, technology, and creating systems that let computers do things for people, but the mission matters to me—getting to use my skills to make the nation safer.”

Even during COVID-19, Cevasco and her team showed up onsite nearly every day. “The satellites are flying, there are actors out there who are trying all the time to harm us. You can’t just say ‘We’ll get back to it in a couple weeks,’” she said.

Satellites power so much in today’s world: telecommunications, entertainment, the global supply chain, disaster response, and beyond. “People take it for granted that these resilient, ubiquitous networks will always be there,” she said.

What’s next? According to Cevasco, federal agencies will need to figure out when to capitalize on commercial services, such as imagery, instead of building these capabilities themselves. She expects organizations to see big advances as satellites get smaller, launch costs decrease, and processing and networking technology improve. 

“Right now, a satellite is a lens in space, not even a camera. In the future, onboard processing and networking amongst satellites will open up more capabilities, like satellites working together collectively and laser-based communications—using laser light to shoot data between satellites.”

How can U.S. organizations use AI-powered insights, predictive analytics, and cybersecurity to track and defend U.S. satellites in the increasingly competitive space domain? 

Learn more about Booz Allen’s space portfolio and watch the firm’s March 23 webinar “Tracking the Future: Space Domain Awareness,” which was moderated by Cevasco and included discussion on digital engineering principles such as open data platforms and DevSecOps with panelists including former NASA astronaut.

Read more about Booz Allen’s work in space and how Booz Allen supports women in the workplace.