Umbra has named Ashely Durmer as the company’s new COO to lead the company’s day-to-day operations as the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and space services company looks to grow.
Durmer joined Umbra in early 2025 as vice president of Communications. She previously spent eight years at Ligado Networks in roles including head of Government Affairs and chief communications officer.
“Ashley cares deeply about the people who make this company what it is, and about creating an environment where our teams have the clarity, accountability, and opportunity to do their best work. As our COO, I’ve asked her to help shape the organization for where we’re going, while preserving what makes Umbra special — our speed, ingenuity, and willingness to challenge convention,” Umbra CEO and co-founder David Langan said in a statement.
Todd Master, a former DARPA program manager, held the role of COO at Umbra for the past five years. He is now Umbra’s chief strategy officer.
Umbra operates its own SAR satellites, recently securing a Radar Commercial Augmentation (RCA) sole source contract from the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Umbra also sells full satellites and missions to customers. Last year, the company expanded into the components business with its vertically integrated components.
