Sea Launch Biography - Bill Collopy

William (Bill) R. Collopy, Jr.
Chairman
Sea Launch Company, LLC

Bill Collopy is Chairman of the Board of the Sea Launch Company. He has played a leading role in the development of the Sea Launch partnership since its inception in the mid-1990s. Collopy also achieved a long and distinguished career at The Boeing Company, where he served as vice president of Southern California Operations, reporting to the Office of the President of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (IDS), until his retirement in October 2005. Prior to that position, he was vice president and general manager of Boeing's Launch and Satellite Systems unit, where he led satellite, launch and propulsion businesses for IDS.

Collopy held the position of Chief Financial Officer for Boeing Space and Communications (S&C) business unit until July 2002. In this capacity, he led the Finance, Accounting, Contracts, Pricing and Estimating functions. He provided leadership for all major business transactions and was a key member of the Strategic Business Council charting the strategic direction for S&C. He also oversaw the group’s joint ventures, including Sea Launch and United Space Alliance, which he helped to establish.

From 1988 to 1998, Collopy was Vice President, Finance & Material, Facilities and controller of Boeing North American, Inc. (formerly Rockwell International) Space Systems. Collopy led all financial and procurement activities for the multi-billion division which included the Space Shuttle program, the GPS program, space-based missile defense along with advanced space initiatives. Under his leadership, the division consistently led the corporation in cash generation and economic profit.

Collopy joined Rockwell International in 1973 as a Financial Analyst working in Financial Planning concentrating on mergers and acquisitions, at the Autonetics Division in Anaheim, Calif. He then held various management positions in Anaheim and Dallas, Texas prior to 1979 when he was appointed Director of Investment Analysis for Corporate Offices in El Segundo, Calif. In 1980, he was assigned to Space Systems as the first Business Director of the Space Shuttle Program.

Collopy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from the University of Southern California in 1972 and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California in 1973.