Ann Stevens, who recently took over as CEO of satellite maker ICEYE US, says the company will be opening a new facility in Irvine this year.
Stevens, whose resume includes an executive stint at the Boeing Co., will accelerate the delivery of advanced domestic remote sensing capabilities.
“Irvine is central to our growth. It is where we design, build, and operate to serve U.S. government and commercial customers,” she told the Business Journal on June 10. “Our focus is on scaling that capacity — adding people, deepening our manufacturing capabilities, and continuing to expand what we can deliver.”
The new, larger facility has a move-in date of “mid-summer,” the company says without providing specifics.
“Orange County’s aerospace and defense ecosystem makes it a great place to do that, and we intend to keep investing in it,” Stevens said.
Stevens succeeds Eric Jensen, who joined ICEYE US in 2020 and established the firm as a trusted partner for the U.S. government and commercial customers.
Recently, ICEYE announced Jensen’s appointment as chief operating officer based in Helsinki.
The Irvine firm specializes in synthetic aperture radar satellites (SAR), which have the science fiction-like quality of being able to see through clouds and darkness of night as well as clear daylight to provide high-resolution images. Its satellites are also destined for U.S. allies.
Start Took Place in Finland
ICEYE US grew out of the original ICEYE company in Finland. ICEYE US was established as a separate, independent company in 2018 to conform to a federal government policy urging foreign aerospace manufacturers to establish significant domestic operations.
The ownership structure allows employees to have U.S. security clearances and to work on government contracts.
ICEYE US remains “affiliated” with the Finnish company, which announced a $520 million funding round on June 9.
There are 50 employees in Irvine, with active hiring to keep up with steady growth. The company had nine jobs posted as of June 13, including radio frequency hardware engineer, radio frequency signals engineer and sales & marketing.
The satellites provide information to government and business in areas such as insurance, natural catastrophe response and recovery, maritime, national security, humanitarian relief and climate change monitoring, including coastal erosion and waterway hazards.
Recent wins include a contract from National Reconnaissance Office, which uses satellites to boost national security, that was announced in May.
Satellite Demand Strong, Growing
“Demand for SAR is strong and growing, and our U.S. business is expanding accordingly,” Stevens said. She will retain a “strong presence and commitment” both in Irvine and Washington, D.C.
Her appointment was announced on June 2.
Stevens joined ICEYE US from aerospace and defense company ASRC Federal where she served as chief strategy officer.
Prior to ASRC Federal, Stevens was vice president of Maritime & Intelligence Systems at Boeing Co.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in organizational management from George Washington University.
Stevens is one of only four women leading an aerospace company in Orange County.
Patty Chang-Chien is vice president and chief engineer at Boeing in Seal Beach; Cristy Stagg is a general manager at defense company L3Harris in Anaheim, while Candy Suits is CEO of aircraft components maker Symbolic Displays in Santa Ana.
