Dale Ketcham is the Vice President for Government and Community Relations for Space Florida. He has been an advocate of Florida in the space marketplace for decades. In his present role, Ketcham utilizes existing and developing networks to advantage the State of Florida as the recognized leader in the civil, commercial and military space marketplace through innovation, collaboration and influence.

Dale spent 40+ years at the Cape working with major contractors, 8(a)’s, the U.S. Congress, Enterprise Florida and the University of Central Florida.

After receiving a degree in Philosophy from the University of Florida, Dale returned to Cocoa Beach. There he worked for Rockwell International in the Shuttle Program for 10 years, then spent four years as District Director for Congressman Jim Bacchus, representing the Space Coast on the Space Subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Dale then returned to the private sector, becoming Director of Business Development for AJT & Associates, a private 8(a) engineering firm working with NASA as well as the U.S. Navy, the Air Force and airports around the country.

Immediately prior to Space Florida, Dale worked at UCF as Director of the Spaceport Research & Technology Institute (SRTI) at KSC and before that as the Director of Space and Defense Programs with Enterprise Florida, the state’s economic development agency.

Over the last few decades, Dale has managed political campaigns for City Commission, Port Authority, local bond referendums, and two Congressional races. Since 2007 he has often served as the primary point of contact for those seeking the Presidency of both parties by demonstrating their support for the space program in Florida.

Bringing this experience and network to the transformation of Florida as a dominant player in the new era of commercial space enterprise is the culmination of a career.