Colonel Justin W. Chandler (Ret.) is the Vice President of Government Relations and Strategic Partnerships at ThinkOrbital. In this role, he leads efforts to cultivate relationships with the Department of Defense and industry partners, securing support through contracts, studies, and funding opportunities. He plays a key role in guiding the ThinkOrbital team in the development of critical national defense capabilities and transformative technologies for humanity.
Colonel Chandler retired after 21 years of service in the Department of the Air Force, where he was instrumental in the establishment of the U.S. Space Force. A combat pilot with extensive experience in commercial space launch and operations, he has made significant contributions to military aviation and space innovation.
A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Colonel Chandler earned advanced degrees from Harvard University, the U.S. Air Force Air War College, the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, and the Air Command and Staff College. His operational career includes participation in Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, UNIFIED RESPONSE, and HORN OF AFRICA. While stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, he received the Gen. George Trophy for best C-130/C-160 crew and the Gen. Allen Trophy for best Airdrop Team at the 2007 Air Mobility Command Rodeo. At Pope Field, he was named the 2011 Pope Field CGO of the Year.
Colonel Chandler played a pivotal role in reimagining pilot training as one of the architects of the Pilot Training Next initiative, integrating virtual reality, data analytics, biometrics, and human performance data into modern pilot education. In 2019, he was one of three officers selected for U.S. Air Force Space Officer Training, preparing multi-domain leaders for the future of air and space operations.
Following his squadron command, Colonel Chandler contributed to commercial spaceflight as a Space Operations Engineer at SpaceX, helping launch U.S. astronauts from American soil for the first time since 2011.
Most recently, he served as Director of the Strategic Initiatives Group at U.S. Space Force Headquarters, where he was instrumental in the service’s stand-up and growth. A Senior Pilot with over 1,900 flying hours in the C-130 and KC-10, including more than 650 combat hours, Colonel Chandler has commanded at the squadron level and held key leadership roles across headquarters, MAJCOM, wing, group, and squadron levels.