Orbital Sciences Corp. [ORB] officials said today that Brent Collins has been named senior vice president and deputy general manager for operations in the company’s Launch Systems Group. In this position, Collins will help lead Orbital’s efforts in providing highly-reliable launch vehicles for missile defense-related target programs and space launch systems for the national security, civil and commercial markets.

Prior to joining Orbital, Collins served as chief engineer for the ground-based midcourse defense system interceptor program at The Boeing Co. [BA] and chief technologist for Boeing’s Missile Defense unit. Prior to joining Boeing, Collins spent 32 years in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a colonel.