EXCLUSIVE: Derek Tournear reinstated as Space Development Agency director
Tournear was placed on administrative leave from his role on Jan. 16.
Space Development Agency chief Derek Tournear (R) addresses the audience at the Space Foundation’s 2024 Space Symposium. (Space Foundation)
WASHINGTON — Space Development Agency Director Derek Tournear, who was placed on administrative leave Jan. 16 with regard to a contract dispute, will return to his post on April 17, Breaking Defense has learned.
“Effective 17 April, 2025, Dr Derek Tournear will return to his duties as the Director of the Space Development Agency,” an Air Force spokesperson said in response to an inquiry into SDA chief, who has been suspended since Jan. 16.
As first reported by Breaking Defense, Tournear’s suspension followed a bid protest by Viasat over SDA’s Aug. 16, 2024 award of two prototype agreements, worth approximately $424 million in total, to York Space Systems and Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems. For the award, each contractor was tasked with building 10 Tranche 2 Transport Layer (T2TL) – Gamma variant prototype space vehicles.
The Gamma satellites will not be part of the operational Transport Layer of data relay satellites per se, but instead are related to the agency’s efforts to develop fire control capabilities for missile defense and the experimental FOO Fighter program.
A subsequent investigation by the Department of the Air Force found that an unnamed “SDA employee” had revealed to Tyvak that its bid price “was the second highest and would not be selected for award,” according to documents filed on Feb. 14 with the US Court of Federal Claims. Several sources close to the case confirmed to Breaking Defense that the employee was Tourner.
That action was determined by the senior Air Force official in charge of the review, Maj. Gen. Alice Trevino, to be a violation of the Procurement Integrity Act that regulates government contracting practices. Thus, the department agreed to revoke the award to Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems worth $254 million for 10 experimental fire-control satellites, and reopen bidding.
Asked about the investigation, an Air Force spokesperson said, “The matter was addressed through established civilian personnel processes.”
