IRVINE, Calif., and TORINO, Italy — Terran Orbital, a prominent Lockheed Martin company and a global leader in satellite-based solutions primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries, has announced a significant leadership transition within its European division. The company officially promoted Margherita Cardi to the position of Vice President of European Operations and Head of Strategic Programs, effective September 17, 2026.
In her newly expanded capacity, Cardi will step into the role of senior-most operational leader for Terran Orbital’s broader European organization. She will oversee all local functions, departments, and operational capabilities based in Italy. Cardi will report directly to Peter Krauss, who serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Terran Orbital while also maintaining his role as Managing Director of Tyvak International, the company’s European arm headquartered in Torino.
The promotion marks a notable milestone for both Cardi and the enterprise, reflecting a decade of institutional growth and operational maturity within the European space sector.
A Decade of Growth and Leadership Within Tyvak International
Margherita Cardi’s journey with Tyvak International dates back nearly to its inception. Having joined the company in 2016 as its third employee, she has witnessed and actively guided the organization’s evolution from a small, ambitious startup into a trusted heavyweight capable of executing highly complex, multi-stakeholder space missions for major European entities.
Over the past ten years, Cardi has navigated a steady trajectory of increasing responsibility. Her career path within the company spans across critical technical and executive disciplines, including systems engineering, program management, business development, and executive leadership. Prior to her latest appointment, she served as the Vice President of Programs and Business Development, where she spearheaded the harmonization of program management, business development, and systems engineering teams to drive efficient mission delivery.
Peter Krauss praised Cardi’s deep institutional knowledge and proven capability to steer delicate, high-stakes initiatives through to completion.
"Margherita has been an important part of Tyvak International almost from the beginning, and she has grown as a leader alongside the organization," Krauss stated. "She understands our customers, our programs and, most importantly, our people. She has proven that she can lead complex missions, build strong relationships with our institutional partners and bring teams together to execute. I am confident she is the right person to lead our European team through this next chapter."
Throughout her extensive tenure, Cardi has played a central role in managing and executing programs tailored specifically for European institutional clients. Her leadership has been instrumental in securing and delivering major contracts with foundational entities such as the European Space Agency (ESA), the Italian Space Agency (ASI), and a diverse portfolio of demanding commercial customers.
Spearheading Pioneering Planetary Defense Missions
Among the most notable accomplishments of Cardi’s career is her leadership of the Milani program. Milani is a specialized CubeSat developed specifically for ESA’s Hera planetary defense mission. As the Milani Program Manager, Cardi directed the comprehensive development, assembly, and delivery of the advanced spacecraft destined for a pioneering deep-space mission to study the Didymos binary asteroid system.
The Hera mission represents a cornerstone of modern planetary defense strategies, designed to gather precise scientific data following previous kinetic impact tests. Hera is scheduled to arrive at the Didymos asteroid system in late 2026, with the Milani CubeSat expected to be released in early 2027. Once deployed, Milani will support the mission’s detailed geological and environmental investigation of the asteroid system, marking a critical milestone for European deep-space exploration and small-satellite capabilities.
Reflecting on her journey and the road ahead, Cardi emphasized the collective effort behind the company’s decade-long evolution.
"Being part of Tyvak International since its early days and seeing what this team has built over the past 10 years has been an incredible experience," Cardi remarked. "We have grown from a small team with an ambitious vision into an organization trusted to execute highly complex missions for some of Europe’s most important customers. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and excited to take on this responsibility as we continue growing our capabilities, strengthening our customer relationships and delivering the missions ahead."
Extensive Industry Background and Technical Expertise
Cardi’s promotion is underpinned by a robust technical background and extensive experience in program execution, organizational leadership, and stakeholder relations. Beyond her internal responsibilities at Tyvak International, she has served as a prominent ambassador for the company across the aerospace community, representing the enterprise at major industry events, delivering keynote presentations, participating in media engagements, and sharing her insights through a TEDx Talk.
Before joining Tyvak International in 2016, Cardi built a solid foundation in aerospace engineering and program management at Vitrociset S.p.A. During her tenure there, she held critical roles supporting the Vega launch program, which included direct participation in complex launch campaigns at Europe’s Spaceport located in Kourou, French Guiana.
Her academic credentials are equally specialized, providing a strong theoretical framework for her practical engineering and leadership achievements. Cardi holds a master’s degree in Space Engineering as well as a second-level master’s degree in Space Systems and Services, both earned from the prestigious Sapienza University of Rome.
Strategic Outlook for Tyvak International and Terran Orbital
In her new executive role, Cardi will maintain direct oversight of Tyvak International’s robust operations in Italy. Her immediate priorities will include driving the flawless execution of ongoing European space programs while actively cultivating and strengthening relationships with institutional, governmental, and commercial partners across the continent.
While Cardi assumes day-to-day operational leadership for the European organization, Peter Krauss will continue to serve as Managing Director and legal corporate representative of Tyvak International, ensuring seamless administrative and strategic continuity between the European operations and Terran Orbital’s broader global enterprise.
Terran Orbital continues to solidify its status as an industry leader by providing comprehensive satellite solutions tailored to the rigorous demands of the aerospace and defense sectors. The company offers end-to-end capabilities that span the entire lifecycle of a mission, including spacecraft design, advanced production, rigorous integration, testing, and continuous mission operations. Through Tyvak International, Terran Orbital maintains an unyielding strategic footprint in the European space market, managing high-profile institutional, government, and commercial missions directly from its hub in Torino, Italy.
