Dr. George Mavko

Board Member

Former director of European Missile Defense and Director of Missile Defense Strategy at Raytheon and current advisor at the Steward Observatory and Astronomy Department

Dr. George Mavko, a retired aerospace executive and science advocate, currently serves as a member of the Arizona Astronomy Board and is an advisor at the Steward Observatory and the university of Arizona Astronomy Department. He also is a member of the Advisory Council of the department if Biomedical Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as well as being a senior advisor to EnZinc, a technology startup developing a breakthrough battery that promises to revolutionize energy storage.

Dr. Mavko’s background in aerospace includes a wide range of activities, including technology development, major program management and strategy development.

During his time at Raytheon Missile Systems from 1993 to 2014, Dr. Mavko served as the director of European Missile Defense and Director of Missile Defense Strategy. Prior to his time at Raytheon, Dr. Mavko led a number of technology development activities at General Dynamics Convair Division from 1979 to 1993 and was the Director of Advanced Programs.

Dr. Mavko was a member of the United States Air Force from 1974 to 1979. As both uniformed officer and civilian, he led projects in infrared sensor development and satellite tracking.

Dr. Mavko received his BS in Engineering Physics from Cornell University and his PhD in Astrophysics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University of Michigan.