The Galileo satellites now answer to his command
- Rolf Kozlowski appointed to the DLR GfR executive board
- Focus: Space, satellite navigation
A change of leadership in the Galileo satellite programme; Rolf Kozlowski has joined the management of the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) Space Applications Institute (Gesellschaft für Raumfahrtanwendungen mbH; GfR) with immediate effect. There he will, among other things, advance the development of Galileo. The 53-year-old succeeds Simon Plum, who, after three years as Technical Director, left DLR GfR on 1 September 2020 to take up new responsibilities as Head of Mission Operations at ESA’s European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt.
"We are very pleased to have been able to recruit Rolf Kozlowski for GfR," says Hansjörg Dittus, DLR Executive Board Member for Space Research and Technology. "With him, GfR has gained an experienced expert who, together with his staff, will guide the company as the Galileo programme prepares for the future. I extend a warm welcome to Dr Kozlowski and look forward to our collaboration."
Walter Päffgen, Managing Director of DLR GfR, commented: "I would like to thank Simon Plum very much for his commitment, which has put DLR GfR in a promising position as an important participant in the Galileo programme, and wish him all the best."
Rolf Kozlowski most recently headed the Communications and Ground Stations Department at DLR's German Space Operations Center (GSOC) in Oberpfaffenhofen. As a graduate in computer science with a doctorate following immediately after, he started his career after 10 years in academia, moving to the industrial concern CAM GmbH. During this time, he took on projects which enabled him to work closely with, for example, Deutsche Flugsicherung, Airbus (then EADS) and DLR. From 2006, he worked as Deputy Head of the Communications and Ground Stations Department at the DLR site in Oberpfaffenhofen until he took over as head of the department seven years ago.
About Galileo
Galileo is the European satellite navigation system that, since its initial launch in 2011, has been Europe's answer to US GPS and the navigation systems operated by Russia and China. With 26 satellites – another 12 are to follow in the next few years – it is the largest space programme on the continent.
Galileo is an EU programme operated on behalf of the European Commission by the European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency (GSA). DLR GfR is responsible for operating the satellites from the Galileo Control Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen. Together with the Italian company 'Telespazio S.p.A.', it is an equal shareholder in ‘spaceopal GmbH’, which as Galileo Service Operator (GSOp) organises the operation and maintenance of the space and ground segments.