Michael López-Alegría Joins Academy Securities’ Advisory Board

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Academy Securities, a registered broker-dealer, certified Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE), and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), today announced the addition of Michael López-Alegría to its Advisory Board.

Mr. López-Alegría is a decorated astronaut with more than 40 years of aviation and space experience with the U.S. Navy and NASA in a variety of roles including Naval Aviator, engineering test pilot and program manager, NASA astronaut, and International Space Station commander. He is the former president of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, where he was a spokesman, thought leader, and advocate with the U.S. Congress and pertinent Executive Agencies for favorable public policy on behalf of the commercial spaceflight industry. He is currently the Chief Astronaut for Axiom Space, the Houston-based company that is building the world’s first commercial space station.

“Academy is honored to welcome Michael to the Firm’s Advisory Board,” stated Academy’s Chairman and CEO Chance Mims. “His record-breaking space career is remarkable, and we are thrilled to have him on the Team.”

Mr. López-Alegría commented, “I am privileged to join the Academy team as an advisor. Their mission and core values of teamwork, loyalty, and integrity resonate with me, as does their dedication to advancing the circumstances of veterans.”

Mr. López-Alegría earned a B.S. in systems engineering at the United States Naval Academy and an M.S. in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. He also holds NASA records for most extravehicular activities (EVAs) or ”spacewalks” (10) and cumulative EVA time (67 hours, 40 minutes). He was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2021. He has served on several advisory boards and committees of public and private organizations, including the Human Exploration and Operations Committee of the NASA Advisory Council and the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC) to the FAA, and is the current chairman of ASTM International’s Committee on Commercial Spaceflight as well as past President of the Association of Space Explorers.

"As the commercialization of space expands and the threats within the space domain increase , we are pleased to be able to enhance our offering to Academy’s clients and partners with the addition of Michael,” stated Academy’s President Phil McConkey. “His unique perspective, having served the nation as an astronaut and as a military officer, will be invaluable.”

About Academy Securities

Academy Securities is a preeminent disabled veteran owned investment bank with strength in capital markets, public finance, fixed income, and equity trading. Leadership and staff have had intensive military training prior to entering and gaining in-depth financial services experience in global capital markets. We are mission driven with a high ethical code, a solid sense of accountability and strive for excellence in the pursuit of our clients’ success. Academy is our nation’s first post-9/11 disabled veteran owned investment bank and is certified as a DVBE, SDVOSB, and MBE. The firm has a strong top and middle tier client base served by a national platform with offices in New York, Chicago, San Diego, Chapel Hill, Louisville, Austin, Dallas, and Sacramento. Information about Academy Securities is available at www.academysecurities.com.