Scott Millican, CEO HE Space in the spotlight
Scott Millican, the CEO of HE Space Operations was put in the Exhibitor Spotlight by Space Tech Expo Europe. Learn more about his inspiration to start the company.
The Space Tech Expo Europe from 19-21 November in Bremen is Europe's premier B2B Space engineering event for spacecraft, satellite, launch vehicle and space related technologies. HE Space will be present with a stand.
Exhibitor spotlight: Scott Millican, CEO HE Space
Scott Millican has extensive experience in the space business. In 1969, he developed the scott millicanLunar Surface Checklist and trained astronauts for the procedures that would help take NASA’s Apollo Missions 11 to 17 to the moon and safely back to Earth. Together with Mike Hernandez, he launched Hernandez Engineering in 1982. In 1997, Scott became the single owner of Hernandez Engineering BV and the name changed to HE Space Operations.
HE Space Operations built upon this legacy and diversified into programmes not related to human spaceflight, as well as to the commercial space industry. The company’s focus has remained exclusively on space.
What inspired you to join/start this company?
The European Spacelab programme offered Hernandez Engineering the opportunity to export its capability. In 1983, the company was contracted by the German Space Agency (then known as DFVLR, now DLR) to provide astronaut training for the Spacelab D1 mission, which flew in 1985. This led to follow-on contracts from DFVLR and from ESA for real-time mission operations and for payload safety analysis. Hernandez Engineering GmbH was founded in Bonn to service these contracts.
What do you think sets your company apart from your competitors?
The consistent success of the company has been built on quality and motivation, combined with the consistent professionalism of the HE Space staff, and the all-round support that the company offers to its employees and customers.
What are the key opportunities and challenges your company faces at present?
The challenges we face are the same that every company faces; that is, looking for highly qualified personnel. At the same time, it is our key opportunity because we are so experienced in the business of HR and personnel recruitment with a clear focus on the space industry. We understand the job descriptions and know where and how to find the right candidates for the open positions. We do the matchmaking for engineering, scientific and administrative positions and invest in the best personnel for enterprises of any size to successfully achieve space missions.
What would you say most excites you about your role?
Leading a space business that helps customers to find the right candidates to solve their technical challenges. It’s all about working with people and making our company the best to work for.
How do you think the industry will develop within the next five years? Can you tell us about the key trends emerging?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is of course already a trend, but we think its development will become more and more important for space technology. The idea of exploring and venturing ever deeper into space is built upon human nature. One of the key factors when talking about trends will never change: it is all about people. All visions, ideas, developments and outcomes in (space) technology always follow one idea: how can we improve life for human beings? We reflect that with our company slogan: “Passionate about people and passionate about space”.
What do you hope to achieve at the show this year, and what connections do you hope to make?
We are looking forward to meeting companies that we can support and helping them to find the right personnel for the challenging tasks of the space technology business.
HE Space Operations GmbH will be exhibiting at Space Tech Expo Europe at stand L22.