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Profile
Frank DiBello, Space Florida President and CEO, was selected in May 2009 to lead the organization, whichserves as the single point of contact for aerospace-related economic development in Florida. In this position, Mr. DiBello develops and executes programs designed to retain, grow and expand aerospace business in Florida. He also focuses on the development of Florida aerospace workforce retention and vendor appreciation programs.
Mr. DiBello has more than 40 years of direct aerospace and defense industry-related experience. In addition to his current role at Space Florida, DiBello is the founding partner for Aerospace Capital Partners, an infrastructure investment fund in formation, investing in aerospace, technology and telecommunications initiatives. He is also the president and ceo of a strategic advisory and investment banking firm serving the aerospace and high-technology industry. He also served as president and chief executive officer of Florida’s Aerospace Finance Corporation, established by the Florida legislature to assist financing the needs of new and established companies applying aerospace technologies to space, aviation and defense markets. The Corporation’s goal was to finance aerospace growth in order to expand the presence, depth and quality of the employment industry in the state.
Formerly, Mr. DiBello served as the founding officer and vice chairman of SpaceVest Management Group, Inc., the sponsoring organization of the SpaceVest family of funds, and as managing director of several SpaceVest Venture Capital Funds. As a partner, he structured initiatives for strategic development of portfolio companies and managed portfolio investments.
Prior to joining SpaceVest, Mr. DiBello was the founder and managing partner of KPMG Peat Marwick’s Commercial Space and Advanced Technologies Practice. He conceived and implemented this specialized practice focused on the strategic development and financing of businesses applying advanced technologies to space and telecommunications.
Over the course of his career, DiBello was appointed by NASA to serve on a number of critical space commissions and committees. As such, he assumed responsibility for overseeing a five-year national outreach program to support NASA’s mission of stimulating industrial interest in the Space Station and in space-related research, development and applications. DiBello has also participated in numerous strategic, financial, and market assessments for multinational space industry clients.
In 1985, DiBello received the Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the Defense Department’s highest civilian honor, for his work as president of the United Services Organization (USO). He was also founder of the Space Business Roundtable in Washington D.C.
Mr. DiBello taught at the Defense Systems Management College and International Space University. He received his BS in Mathematics from Villanova University and did graduate study work at American University and George Washington University.
Mr. DiBello has served on numerous defense and space governmental and industry-related boards and Commissions, and is a frequent industry speaker and advocate.