September 22, 2020

Enrico Saggese

Enrico Saggese is an electronic engineer in the aerospace field. Throughout his decades-long career, he has led companies on the edge of space innovation, served on various boards, and worked in the public sector.

Mr. Saggese began his career at Telespazio, one of the first companies in the satellite field. His 14-year period at Telespazio culminated in his appointment as Director of Small Ground Station Networks. Mr. Saggese then went on to co-found Space Engineering, now Airbus Italy, where he served as GM and a member of the board for 13 years. Following the acquisition of Telespazio by Finmeccanica, Mr. Saggese was appointed CEO of Telespazio. He later transitioned to the role of Senior VP of Finmeccanica while retaining the role of VP of the Telespazio Board.

In 2008, the Italian Parliament appointed Enrico Saggese President of the Italian Space Agency, marking the completion of his work in the private sector. During his presidency, several major projects reached completion: Vega was launched, the Cosmo Satellite Constellation was completed, and four Italian astronauts reached ISS. Mr. Saggese then served as the Italian delegate at the European Space Agency. His period as a public servant ended in 2014 when he co-founded On-Air Consulting and Solutions.

Mr. Saggese graduated cum laude from universities in Rome and Turin and served as second lieutenant in the Italian Army. He holds a patent in the drone field and has written more than 60 scientific papers. He is also the co-author of the Satellite Communication System Design book and an IAA Academician.