Sirisha Bandla

Sirisha Bandla is a prominent figure in the commercial space industry, currently serving as the Vice President of Government Affairs and Research Operations at Virgin Galactic.1 Her career has been focused on the aerospace sector, with significant experience in both government affairs and business development.

Professional Experience

Bandla has held several key positions within the Virgin Group companies:

• Vice President of Government Affairs at Virgin Galactic (January 2021 - Present)1
• Director of Washington Operations at Virgin Orbit (January 2020 - January 2021)1
• Business Development & Government Affairs Manager at both Virgin Orbit and Virgin Galactic (October 2017 - January 2020)1

Prior to her roles at Virgin, she worked as:

• Associate Director at Commercial Spaceflight Federation (January 2012 - June 2015)1
• Mechanical Engineer at L-3 Communications Integrated Systems (2011 - January 2012)1

Education

Bandla's educational background includes:

• Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from The George Washington University (2012 - 2015)1
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University (2006 - 2011)1

Notable Achievements

One of Bandla's most significant accomplishments was her journey to space aboard Virgin Galactic's Unity 22 mission. In a LinkedIn post, she mentioned preparing for this space flight nearly a year before it occurred, describing it as a moment she had dreamed of since childhood.2

Language Skills

Bandla is proficient in two languages:

• English (native or bilingual proficiency)
• Telugu (limited working proficiency)1

Her diverse experience in aerospace engineering, business development, and government affairs, combined with her personal experience as a space traveler, makes Sirisha Bandla a unique and valuable asset in the commercial space industry.