New Mojave Spaceport CEO to Address AV Business Outlook Conference

Katrina Drees

LANCASTER, Calif. (AVBOT PR) — Karina Drees, who will assume duties as CEO and General Manager of Mojave Air & Space Port in January, will be among regional business and industry leaders to speak at the Antelope Valley Business Outlook Conference on Feb. 26, 2016.

Drees, Deputy General Manager of MASP, has been named to succeed CEO Stu Witt upon his retirement at year end.

Drees, 39, joined the Mojave Air & Spaceport management in July 2012 as director of business development, and was advanced to the post of deputy general manager a year later. She worked with the Mojave Air and Spaceport in 2007 in developing an access-to-space plan for commercial operations of the new space transportation vehicles under development in Mojave.

Prior to joining the Mojave Air and Space Port, Drees had more than 12 years’ experience in strategy and business development, occupying management positions for growing technology companies.

A director of the Antelope Valley Board of Trade since 2013, Karina was credited for being instrumental in the great success of the 2014 Antelope Valley Business Outlook Conference held at Mojave Air and Spaceport, with the theme “Breaking Boundaries.”

As CEO, Drees is responsible for maintaining more than 3,000 acres of property and managing 150 tenant contracts. She oversees all air and space operations at the airport and manages procedures, business operations and regional partnership development. Drees leads the implantation of strategic initiatives for the benefit of the companies operating in Mojave as well as the region.

Prior to MASP, Drees held senior positions in strategy, business development and operations for growing technology companies. She was most recently a member of the strategy and positioning team at SRA International where she identified opportunities for multiple divisions within the company. Before joining SRA, Drees held leadership positions at two investor-backed high tech startup companies in the Washington DC area.

Drees has a BS degree from Arizona State University and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management where she ran the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition and was a board member for that competition. She also completed International Space University’s (ISU) Summer Session Program in Beijing, China.

Drees becomes the third general manager in the history of the former World War II-era Marine Corps air base, which became a general aviation airport and home to innovative civilian flight test in the early 1970s.

Karina Drees selection was announced by Mojave Airport District Board President Allen Peterson, who declared her to be the best qualified candidate in the search for Witt’s successor.

Karina lives in Mojave with her husband Todd Quelet and their son.

Tickets for the 44th Annual BUSINESS OUTLOOK CONFERENCE can be purchased on line at www.avbot.org or by calling 661-947-9033 or e-mailing [email protected]. The Conference is scheduled for Friday, February 26, 2016 at the AV Fairgrounds in Lancaster. Sponsorships are also available for the all-day event.