Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC Announces Leadership for the Colorado Aerospace & Defense Economic Council
The Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corporation has selected Art Loureiro as the 2026 Chair and Melanie Stricklan as Vice Chair of the Colorado Aerospace & Defense Economic Council (CAD-EC). Loureiro succeeds Bluestaq Co-founder and CEO Seth Harvey, who served as Chair in 2025.
Together, Loureiro and Stricklan will help guide the council’s work to strengthen Colorado’s aerospace, defense, and cybersecurity ecosystem through strategic advocacy, industry connectivity, workforce development, and policy engagement.
“Art and Melanie represent the strength and diversity of leadership within Colorado’s aerospace and defense community,” said Dale Anderson, Senior Vice President of Defense and Economic Development & Government Affairs at the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC. “Their complementary backgrounds – spanning military service, industry leadership, innovation, and workforce development – position CAD-EC to deliver meaningful impact for our members and for the region at a critical moment for the industry.”
Art Loureiro, 2026 CAD-EC Chair
Loureiro currently serves as Director of Space Defense Solutions at L3Harris Technologies – a long-term member of the Chamber & EDC Board of Governors. He brings more than three decades of experience to the CAD-EC, spanning military service, defense industry leadership, business development, and strategic advisory roles. In his role at L3Harris, Loureiro leads efforts supporting national security priorities across missile warning, missile defense, and space warfare missions.
Prior to his current role at L3Harris, Loureiro served as Business Development Lead and Senior Capture Manager, as well as the Deputy Program Director for the Maintenance of Space Situational Awareness Integrated Capabilities (MOSSAIC) program. He also previously led Aguia Consulting, L.L.C. as Chief Executive Officer and held multiple leadership roles at Boecore, including Space Operations and Missile Warning Business Unit Lead.
Loureiro served as a U.S. Army officer for nearly 30 years, retiring in 2015. He is a graduate of the United States Army War College, holds a master’s degree in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School, and earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Connecticut.
“Art brings a rare combination of leadership experience across the military, industry, and strategic advisory space, along with a deep understanding of the missions that define this community,” Anderson said. “He has been part of the Colorado Springs aerospace and defense ecosystem for many years and has consistently demonstrated a commitment to growing the industry here — from supporting national security priorities to mentoring the next generation of leaders. His perspective and steady leadership will be a tremendous asset to CAD-EC and to the region as a whole.”
Melanie Strickland, 2026 CAD-EC Vice Chair
Stricklan is a nationally recognized leader across the commercial space, defense, and intelligence domains. She is the co-founder of Slingshot Aerospace, which she scaled from inception into a global leader in AI-native orbital intelligence and high-fidelity modeling and simulation.
Under her leadership, Slingshot raised more than $100 million in venture capital, achieved triple-digit annual growth, executed multiple strategic acquisitions, and delivered platforms supporting commercial operators, civil agencies, U.S. defense and intelligence organizations, and allied nations.
Earlier in her career, Stricklan served more than 21 years in the U.S. Air Force, spanning operations and acquisition roles. Her service included commanding experimental spacecraft missions, directing classified multi-agency operational testing for missile warning systems, and serving as a strategic advisor within CENTCOM and national space-defense agencies.
Stricklan holds a Master of Science in Space Systems Engineering and Operations Management from Webster University and a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She has advised the White House and multiple federal agencies on space sustainability, space traffic management, workforce readiness, and resilient space architectures, and is widely respected for translating complex technology, policy, and workforce challenges into measurable impact.
“Melanie brings an exceptional combination of visionary leadership, technical depth, and proven execution across the commercial space, defense, and intelligence sectors,” Anderson said. “Her experience building and scaling innovative enterprises, shaping national policy, and advancing the space workforce gives her a unique perspective on where this industry is headed. As Vice Chair, Melanie will be a powerful partner in helping CAD-EC strengthen Colorado’s role as a leader in space, defense, and innovation.”