Charlie McGillis

Founder, 2 Polaris & Beyond

Charlie McGillis is a seasoned executive and veteran driving strategy, operations, and business development across national security space, supply chain, and cross-sector engagement. She is the Founder and CEO of 2 Polaris Beyond, LLC. Charlie serves on the boards of Catalyst Campus for Technology Innovation and Zendir and is a partner at Elara Nova. She advises Little Place Labs, Lodestar Space, the Georgia Tech Space Research Institute, Beaten Zone Venture Partners Investment Committee, American Center for Manufacturing Innovation Group, TraCSS Independent Review Board for the Department of Commerce, Irregular Warfare Initiatives Project Air Power, and Creative Destruction Lab Space Sector, and is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics and serves on Commission 5 on Space Policies, Law and Economics.

She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, along with postgraduate studies in Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, Military Arts and Sciences, and a Master of Strategic Studies from esteemed military institutions. She served over 26 years in the United States Air Force, she retired as a Colonel, culminating her service as the Director of Intelligence at Fourteenth Air Force. Charlie is also a committed STEM advocate for girls as a member of AstraFeminia and an avid golfer.