Irvine, Calif., September 3, 2026--Satellite manufacturer Terran Orbital, a Lockheed Martin company, announced today the promotion of Carl William Couch II to Vice President of Strategy and Business Development. Couch, who previously served as Senior Director of Business Development at Terran Orbital, will lead the company’s strategy and business development organization, helping align its advanced space capabilities with national security, civil, commercial and international market priorities.
Since joining Terran Orbital, Couch has played a key role in advancing the company’s business development efforts and strengthening relationships across the government and commercial space sectors. His promotion expands his responsibilities to include broader corporate strategy, market development and long-term growth initiatives.
“Carl has already made a significant impact at Terran Orbital, and this promotion reflects both the value he brings to our organization and the confidence we have in his leadership,” said Peter Krauss, chief executive officer of Terran Orbital. “His unique combination of operational experience, technical understanding and customer insight will help us sharpen our strategy, identify new opportunities and position Terran Orbital for continued growth,” he added.
Couch brings more than two decades of experience spanning defense, aerospace, intelligence operations, technology and strategic growth. His career includes leadership positions across the U.S. Department of Defense and private industry, with extensive experience translating emerging technologies into operational capabilities that address complex mission requirements.
Prior to joining Terran Orbital, Couch held several leadership roles within the Department of the Air Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office FSU, including director of operations and intelligence, senior intelligence officer and chief of intelligence capabilities. In these roles, he helped advance mission-critical initiatives and integrate advanced systems into operational frameworks.
Couch began his career in the U.S. Army, serving in operational and planning assignments that included the 25th Infantry Division and 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He later served at U.S. Special Operations Command as chief enterprise architect and senior technical adviser, helping shape digital transformation and technology initiatives across the command. His private-sector experience includes serving as director of engineering at Klas Government, where he led the development of secure communications and data solutions for defense applications.
