Mabus joins Virgin Galactic board

Virgin Galactic, a commercial spaceflight and vehicle development firm, has named Evan Lovell its chief investment officer. Lovell has served as the company’s interim chair since February 2022. Virgin Galactic also named Ray E. Mabus Jr., former secretary of the Navy and governor of Mississippi, to its board as lead independent director and Diana Strandberg, a former executive at investment management firm Dodge & Cox, as a member. “Ray and Diana’s dynamic and complementary expertise in capital markets, international business and government will greatly benefit Virgin Galactic as we launch and grow our global commercial space line,” said Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic. (GovWire 04/26/23) Evan Lovell Appointed Virgin Galactic Board Chairman, Ray Mabus Named Lead Independent Director - GovCon Wire

Regional Note: Mabus is a native of Ackerman, Miss., and graduated from Ackerman High School as valedictorian. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Mississippi and earned a master's degree from John Hopkins in political science. Prior to attending law school at Harvard University, he served two years as a Surface Warfare Officer aboard the Navy cruiser USS Arkansas. He later served as the 60th governor of Mississippi, 75th Secretary of the Navy and ambassador to Saudi Arabia. When he resigned as ambassador, he returned to Mississippi to work for his family's lumber business.