Greg Hilgenberg
Title: Senior Principal Engineer
Education: BS Physics, MA Technology Policy
How did you get into space? In college, I took an elective on Astronomy, which peaked my interest in all things space. Then I went into the Air Force and at that time, space was a rapidly growing and new area for a career.
Favorite planet? Well, Earth, since everything that really matters to me is here, but beyond that, Mars, for the potential it holds for the next wave of exploration.
Hobbies outside of work? Hanging out with my family, martial arts, classical guitar, hiking, travel, and following professional tennis.
Why did you choose SSI? Some colleagues I really trusted recommended SSI and I wanted to work for a smaller company with a great reputation in the industry, where you can also get to know your fellow teammates better.
Bio: I grew up an Air Force brat and moved around quite a bit. I thought I would continue that trend when I joined the Air Force out of college. Turns out, after a few tours, I ended up in Virginia and have lived there since 1996. My career has primarily revolved around space and space protection, but it includes operations, policy development, wargaming, R&D, ground software development, and technical support to both the Intelligence Community and DoD. I have come to appreciate the advantages of “homesteading”, where you can remain involved in professional and personal projects.
