Many people look at space and see an opportunity for exploration, but for Tim Chrisman, the Executive Director of Foundation for the Future, it is so much more. “Space holds the potential to be a playground for the world’s most extraordinary minds to innovate and solve the issues that our world faces today,” he explains. “However, before we can get to this point, it will require the private and public sectors to find a common ground of cooperation and collaboration.”
Chrisman brings his background in the military as an Army intelligence officer, and as a former CIA officer supporting the National Space Council and Joint Staff of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, to his new venture. Having seen what the public and private sectors have to offer, he knows that the best results will be achieved by both working together, rather than individually.
Bridging the gap between private and public sector innovators
Chrisman established Foundation for the Future to pioneer America’s success in space through transportation and infrastructure projects. “I believe there are numerous, enormous opportunities in space that we are simply not taking advantage of,” he says. “By forming a community of companies, innovators, and supporters, and connecting them with these opportunities, we can support a better future for our world.”
As Chrisman explains, Foundation for the Future seeks to bridge the gap between civil space agencies and federal policy to enable the development of infrastructure in space. “Several innovative minds are working in both the private and public sectors,” Chrisman remarks. “Bringing them together will allow the brightest thinkers in science and technology to come up with solutions that will change our world for the better.”
Foundation for the Future’s first target is to support the Space Public-private Advanced Commercialization Enterprise (SPACE) Corporation Act. This act will expand upon the traditional bipartisan support given to NASA for commercial, government, and defense purposes, among other applications advantageous for the greater good.
According to Chrisman, a federally-chartered corporation formed through the SPACE Act could provide the creation of more than 2.6 million new jobs, $160 billion in economic activity, and $10 billion in local and state tax revenue in its first decade alone. This initiative aligns with Foundation for the Future’s mission to create new jobs in the space economy, new opportunities for innovators, and make space accessible to all.
Sharing this exciting future with the world
In September, Foundation for the Future will be hosting a virtual summit called Conversations for the Future. This summit will unite several of the most influential, visionary leaders and speakers from around the world to discuss issues relevant to the new frontier of space. With the goal of inspiring further innovation, the event will feature several presentations and short talks in which speakers will share their expertise and research with the community.
Chrisman is committed to paving the way for a future for humanity that is exciting and filled with opportunities. In his book, “Humanity in Space: A Pre-History of Humanity’s Second Century in Space”, he discusses the future society is heading towards regarding the infrastructure necessary to bolster access to the final frontier. It’s an optimistic tale of what society can hope to achieve with continued investment in the infrastructure and economy of space.
“We will see historic exploration, scientific achievement, economic recovery, and perhaps even a solution to the climate crisis,” asserts Chrisman. “Our country and world deserve better than what we have right now, and paving the way towards a brighter future means investing in outer space now while we have the opportunity to inspire these changes.”
Chrisman hopes that by supporting initiatives such as the SPACE Corporation Act, Foundation for the Future can help blaze a path towards a future filled with opportunity. Though he asserts that many aspects of this future are within reach, the first step in reaching them is the creation of a space infrastructure administration. Once this is achieved, both the public and private sectors can better come together to invest in these exciting and essential developments.
Opinions expressed by CEO Weekly contributors are their own.
