Guidehouse, a global AI-led professional services firm, has expanded its Defense & Security team with the addition of three accomplished leaders: David Hanson, Chris Kennedy, and Tim Ryan. Together, they bring decades of operational, strategic, and technical experience to advance Guidehouse’s space strategy and accelerate mission readiness for clients across the U.S. Department of Defense and Intelligence Community.
“As the space domain becomes increasingly connected and data-driven, our clients need partners who understand operations and can harness emerging technologies to stay ahead,” said Joe Shepherd, Partner and U.S. Navy and Space Account Leader at Guidehouse. “These experts bring the mission insight, technical depth, and leadership experience to help us design smarter, more resilient solutions that align with national security priorities in the space domain.”
David Hanson, Associate Director
Hanson joins Guidehouse with over three decades of experience in satellite operations, global ground station leadership, military installation command, and Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). Hanson served the United States Space Force (USSF) and the United States Air Force (USAF) where he retired as a Colonel. Hanson was the Commander of Space Base Delta 1, the largest Delta in the USSF, leading 3600 military and civilian personnel running 7 of the 14 Service’s installations. His domain expertise and leadership will inform key pursuits and guide innovative solutions for Guidehouse’s clients.
Chris Kennedy, Associate Director
Retired Colonel Chris Kennedy brings over 23 years of military experience across the USSF and the USAF. Prior to joining Guidehouse, Kennedy served the USSF as the Commander of Delta 6, headquartered at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado. Prior to that, Kennedy assisted in directing joint space operations at the command level as Assistant Deputy J3 for the U.S. Space Command and served as a Director of the U.S. Space Command’s Joint Cyber Center. A recognized expert in cyber operations and joint planning, Kennedy will support Guidehouse’s client engagements with advanced technical insight to help bridge cyber–space integration efforts across the DoD and Intelligence Community.
Tim Ryan, Associate Director
Tim is a retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and a Command Space Operator with expertise in Missile Warning, NRO, SATCOM, and ICBM operations. After retirement, he has served as the Associate Director for Joint and National Security Council matters on the Headquarters United Space Force staff, Senior Resident Fellow for Spacepower Studies at the Mitchell Institute and a Senior Director for National Security Space business development. With more than 28 years of operational experience and expertise, Tim will drive mission-focused growth across Guidehouse’s space strategy.
These additions reinforce Guidehouse’s position at the forefront of innovation and mission alignment in the national security space sector—driven by technical solutions and deep operational expertise.
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