Jason is the CEO and founder of Saber Astronautics, a global space technology company that operates satellites and develops mission-critical software for spacecraft operations and Space Domain Awareness. Saber flies large multi-tonne satellite constellations, leads efforts in emerging space traffic management, and deliver software that enables reliable decision-making in complex, high-consequence environments. He also invented machine learning diagnostics for satellites, which were used in contracts with NASA, the ADF, and several large Primes. Saber’s software is now embedded with US Space Force and is the protect-and-defend tool for their combat command Deltas.

Dr. Held has more than 28 years of experience in space. He served in US Army Space Command, the SMDC Battle Lab, and was forward deployed during wartime. As a civilian he wrote flight software for the Hubble and testing for the International Space Station.

Dr. Held lectured for the International Space University, UNSW, and the IRS Space Station Design Workshop; led a research expedition in the Canadian Arctic; and founded multiple technology and entrepreneurship initiatives, including innovation hubs, startup accelerators, and USYD’s Space Engineering laboratory.

In 2016, Dr. Held helped design the Australian Space Agency, for its establishment in 2019. His work is driven by a commitment to lowering barriers to entry in the space industry, building sustainable industry, and enabling international collaboration and trade.