Dr. Victor Aguero is now serving at Chief Technology Officer for Cambrian Works, a new startup focused on developing the commercial potential in space. Until mid-2020, Dr. Aguero served as a Senior Principal Research Engineer at SRI International, where for nearly 23 years he worked as a space technology developer and architect. His primary areas of interest are space systems and advanced technology related to small satellites, satellite constellations, and space missions. Dr. Aguero founded the small satellite program at SRI supporting the DoD/IC community by focusing on technology innovations, developments, and mission concepts during the mid-2000s through 2020. While at SRI, Dr. Aguero’s work led to eight patents and over 15 publications in refereed journals. His most recent work has focused on communications and networking architectures for LEO constellations, new technology applications in space, robotic space systems, and cluster and constellation missions – all of which he is working to apply to commercial space.
At SRI, Dr. Aguero was responsible for the development or support of over 13 CubeSats involving SRI payloads, and he supported the integration and launch of over 55 additional CubeSats through the CubeSat Experiment Pipeline launch integration team he helped establish for the US government in 2009. Prior to joining SRI, Dr. Aguero worked two Space Shuttle missions carrying out research and engineering for the NASA Tethered Satellite System (TSS-1, 1992), its re-flight (TSS-1R, 1996) and associated payloads. During his graduate student years, Dr. Aguero also helped found and lead the Stanford Small Satellite Program through the mid-1980s to early 1990s. Dr. Aguero holds a Ph.D. and an M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University, an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, and a B.S. in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Aguero received graduate school funding through National Science Foundation and NASA Fellowships, and strongly supports engagement in space mission activities by universities.