Director, Space & Spectrum Policy Center, Computer & Communications Industry Association
Karina Perez Molina is Director of the Space & Spectrum Policy Center at the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), where she leads policy engagement on satellite broadband, spectrum allocation, and competition across U.S. and international markets. Appointed as the Center’s inaugural director, Karina was tasked with building the initiative from the ground up, establishing CCIA as a credible and active voice in space and spectrum policy in a matter of months. Her work sits at the intersection of aerospace, telecommunications, and national security, shaping how emerging satellite systems are deployed, regulated, and integrated into the global communications ecosystem.
At CCIA, Karina serves as the primary liaison between member companies developing satellite-based and high-band spectrum communications systems and policymakers across Congress, federal agencies, and international bodies. Colleagues note that she has rapidly expanded CCIA’s footprint in the space sector by convening diverse stakeholders, translating technical issues into policy-relevant frameworks, and finding workable consensus on issues often marked by institutional tension. Her leadership has positioned the Space & Spectrum Policy Center as a meaningful contributor to debates over competition, access, and innovation in satellite broadband.
Karina’s rapid professional ascent was forged during her tenure at the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), where she advanced from intern to Director of Unmanned and Emerging Aviation Technologies in just three years. In that role, she managed the Emerging Technology Committee and led cross-industry coalitions on some of the most challenging policy disputes facing aerospace. Most notably, the interference between 5G networks and aircraft radio altimeters where she coordinated multiple trade associations and represented industry directly to the government.. l Additionally, Karina supported AIA’s work in advisory bodies including the FAA’s Drone Advisory Committee, and the U.S. FCC’s 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee, and the International Civil Aviation Organization’s AAM Study Group..
Earlier, as Manager of Strategic Initiatives at AIA, Karina demonstrated a consistent focus on talent development and access. During COVID-19 restrictions, she brokered the partnership between the American Rocketry Challenge andKerbal Space Program, engaging 1,250 middle- and high-school students and distributing $150,000 in software licenses.
She began her career through internships with the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, where she helped define a Women in STEM mentorship program.
Beyond her formal roles, Karina is deeply committed to building the industry’s future workforce. She co-founded the Zed Factor Fellowship to bring diverse students into aerospace and telecommunications, and she dedicates significant personal time to mentoring young professionals, actively connecting them to career opportunities. For Karina, policy leadership and talent cultivation are inseparable, each essential to sustaining innovation in the space sector.
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