Ashley A. Kowalski is a project leader in The Aerospace Corporation’s International Programs Division, where she works with, represents, and provides technical support to the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command International Affairs (SSC/IA) office, as well as various civil sector organizations (e.g., NASA and FAA). Her responsibilities include developing collaborative opportunities, deepening interoperability, scalability, and resiliency, and integrating space enterprise assets with our allied partners to develop a coalition space enterprise through international space partnerships. A significant focus of her partnerships work includes In-Space Servicing, Manufacturing, and Assembly (ISAM) and the cislunar landscape.
Kowalski joined Aerospace in 2014 as a member of the technical staff in the Space Architecture Department. She later served as a project engineer in Project West Wing, a project engineer in Global Partnerships, and a project leader in International Partnerships.
Outside of Aerospace, Kowalski served as the flight engineer for SIRIUS-21 (Scientific International Research In a Unique terrestrial Station), an eight-month, long-duration spaceflight analog mission held in Moscow, Russia. This was a collaborative project between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center’s (JSC’s) Human Research Program and Russia’s Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP) that studied the effects of isolation and confinement on human psychology, physiology, crew dynamics, crew autonomy, and the general behavioral health of the crewmembers. In addition to this astronaut analog mission, Kowalski served as the crew engineer for the first-ever, all-Aerospace analog crew sent to the Mars Desert Research Station (Crew #269), where the crew tested new technologies and methodologies that could help shape the future of human space exploration.
Molding her career into one that combines Kowalski’s technical background with her interest in human spaceflight, foreign affairs, and space policy is something to which she has dedicated much of her time thus far. Many of her experiences have been through various exchange programs during which she lived and worked in Russia, Germany, and China, and thus was able to gain first-hand perspectives and a well-rounded understanding of the global space industry. Kowalski is proficient in Russian and German, and fluent in Polish.
Education
Kowalski received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical and aerospace engineering from The George Washington University in 2011 and 2012, respectively.
Awards and Honors
Kowalski is a recipient of the NASA JSC SIRIUS-21 award, which was presented to her by the director of the Human Research Program at NASA JSC in 2022.
Affiliations
Kowalski is a member of the Space Generation Advisory Council, Tau Beta Pi (The Engineering Honor Society), and Pi Tau Sigma (International Honor Society for Mechanical Engineers).