President and Chief Operating Officer, Space Exploration Technologies Inc.

Shotwell supervises operations at SpaceX, which has more than 8,000 employees at a number of facilities. She joined the company in 2002 and was promoted to president and chief operating officer in 2008. Shotwell worked at El Segundo-based Aerospace Corp. and rocket manufacturer Microcosm Inc., where she was director of the space systems division. SpaceX, in partnership with USAID, supplied Starlink terminals to Ukraine shortly after it came under attack by Russia in February. The terminals provide internet connections not only for Ukraine’s government officials but its citizens.

YEARS ON THE LA500: 5