Elvert Gardner

Advisory Committee on Excellence in Space (ACES) Representative
Member – Aperio Global

Colonel (retired) Elvert L. Gardner is the Vice President of Space Operations at Aperio Global LLC, leading space strategy development and business capture initiatives. With over 30 years of experience in space strategy, policy, and national security, Gardner aligns corporate strategies with legislative and regulatory trends in space and artificial intelligence. In addition, he serves as an Adjunct Professor of Space Policy and Security at Georgetown University.

Previously, he served as Director of Space Policy and Strategy at the United States Space Force, leading the development of the US Space Force Commercial Space Strategy. His efforts influenced a $30 billion budget and a workforce of over 16,000 personnel. Gardner’s career also includes multiple deployments, serving as an Associate Professor at the National Defense University and advising senior military leaders on critical national security initiatives. Gardner holds multiple advanced degrees and is completing his doctorate in Defense and Strategic Studies, focusing on space deterrence and arms control. Gardner is a combat-decorated veteran, recognized for his leadership and contributions to the defense sector.