The Italian
Simonetta Cheli
has been appointed Director of the Agency's Earth Observation Programs European Space Agency (ESA), from January 1, 2022 will lead the ESRIN center in Frascati, succeeding
Josef Aschbacher
, he became Director General of ESA in March 2021. The appointment came during the 300th ESA Council underway in Paris.
WHO IS SIMONETTA CHELI -
Born in Siena in 1963, Simonetta Cheli worked at ESA for three decades covering various roles within the Direction of Earth Observation Programs, including: Head of the Strategy, Program and Coordination Office, Head Coordination Office and Head of the Public and Institutional Relations Office. He studied Law and Economics at Yale University before graduating in Political Science with a specialization in International Law at the "Cesare Alfieri" University of Florence, Italy. Cheli holds a Diploma of Advanced Studies (DEA) from the Center d'Etudes Diplomatiques et Stratégiques (CEDS) in Paris.
"I did not expect it": these are the first words of Simonetta Cheli to ANSA, after the appointment as head of the Earth Observation Programs of the European Space Agency. "I had prepared my candidacy but I honestly did not expect it - says Cheli - because these are complex decisions of the 22 ESA countries, which have a technical dimension of expertise but also a political dimension". What made your candidacy successful? "Knowing how to combine technical expertise with diplomatic skills and international collaboration"
Two of the three new directors appointed by the European Space Agency are women: in addition to Simonetta Cheli there is also the French
Geraldine Naja
, who from November 1st will head the new Directorate for Marketing, Industry and Procurement, established by 'ESA to help European companies to be successful in the space sector by supporting their economic recovery in the name of environmental protection and digital.
The third male appointment concerns the Spaniard
Francisco Javier Benedicto Ruiz
, who will take office as Director of Navigation on February 16, 2022.
WHO IS GERALDINE NAJA
- Frenchwoman Geraldine Naja has held various roles at ESA since she was hired more than three decades ago, including: Head of the Industrial Policy and Audit Directorate; Head of ESA's EU Relations Office and Head of Strategic and Institutional Matters at the Director-General's Policy Office. Graduated in Political Science, where she specialized in International Relations and European Affairs at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques in Paris (Sciences Po), Naja holds a master's degree in Propulsion and Chemistry from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées (ENSTA ) and graduated in Engineering from Ecole Polytechnique before being hired by ESA. Between 2003 and 2004, ESAhas appointed consultant responsible for strategy in the Cabinet of the French Minister of Research and Higher Education.
WHO IS FRANCISCO JAVIER BENEDICTO RUIZ -
The Spanish Francisco Javier Benedicto Ruiz is currently Head of the Galileo Program Department within the ESA Navigation Directorate. He spent his first years working within the academic world as a microwave engineer at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Barcelona and as a telecommunications engineer at MIER Comunicaciones, also in Barcelona, before being hired by ESA in 1990. He holds a master's degree in telecommunications science and engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and boasts over 100 publications in technical journals and conferences, holds three ESA international patents and has been awarded five prizes and awards.
