The appointment of Raytheon Australia’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr Terry Stevenson and other industry representatives to the newly formed Space Industry and Innovation Council demonstrates the Government’s appreciation for the role for industry in this important domain according to the Managing Director of Raytheon Australia, Mr Michael Ward.

Mr Ward’s comments follow the announcement of the Space Council’s members by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr.

Mr Ward said that business has a genuine stake in space innovation and that the Government is reaching out to industry to seek input on how to build capabilities in this area.

"The appointment of our Chief Technology Officer, Dr Terry Stevenson is important recognition of Raytheon Australia as an organisation that delivers innovative solutions. I am confident that Dr Stevenson, who has expertise in the introduction of new technology through his particular engineering background, will be a great asset to the Government in this endeavour."

Dr Stevenson brings considerable experience to the council together with excellent working relationships with several universities and institutions as well as Australian and US industry. Dr Stevenson’s expertise was recently recognised by Raytheon Company in the United States, where he received an Excellence in Engineering and Technology Award, for demonstrating outstanding technical insight, innovative thinking and leadership on Australia’s Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyer program, Australia’s largest Defence project to date.

Raytheon Australia has a strong pedigree of service to the space industry and a continued commitment to the growth of Australian expertise. Raytheon plays a major role in the space domain as a leading supplier of space sensors, with a 40-year history of successful space mission in the US.

"Raytheon Australia congratulates the Government on this initiative and appreciates the opportunity afforded to Australian industry to participate in shaping the country’s development in space innovation," Mr Ward said. 

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Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), with 2009 sales of $25 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 88 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 75,000 people worldwide. 

Contact
Gerry Wheeler
+61 439 501 327
gerard.wheeler@raytheon.com.au