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Geospatial Industry Veteran Mark Munsell to Lead St. Louis’ Ecosystem into Its Next Chapter of Growth
Ex-NGA executive to serve as Project Lead for the GeoFutures Initiative
Key Takeaways
- Having grown into an engine for innovation and economic growth, St. Louis’ geospatial ecosystem ready to transition into its next phase
- Former NGA Chief AI Officer Mark Munsell will help update GeoFutures’ roadmap for continued growth
- “There is no one in the geospatial industry better qualified to help St. Louis write the next chapter of geospatial excellence than Mark Munsell.”
ST. LOUIS – One of the national geospatial industry’s most respected and well-known leaders has signed on to guide St. Louis’ geospatial ecosystem into its next phase of growth. GeoFutures – the strategic initiative of Greater St. Louis, Inc. working to advance St. Louis as the global center for geospatial technology – announced today that former NGA executive Mark Munsell will serve as its new Project Lead, overseeing the continued growth of the region’s geospatial sector.
“St. Louis is a thriving geospatial community where this year we’ll get to celebrate the opening of NGA St. Louis and are showcasing our emergence as a national hub for defense tech,” said Dustin Allison, Interim CEO for GSL. “As our geospatial ecosystem enters its next phase of growth, we are extremely fortunate to have Mark Munsell lead our efforts. There is no one in the geospatial industry better qualified to help St. Louis write the next chapter of geospatial excellence than Mark Munsell.”
“As a St. Louis native, I cannot think of anything more important than working with the community to bring new emphasis to job growth, startups, and capital investment, as well as assist existing geospatial technology companies grow business in the region,” said Munsell. “The intersection of geospatial with agriculture, biosciences, and defense – all accelerated with common AI innovation – is St. Louis’ greatest opportunity for long-term growth.”
NEXT CHAPTER OF GROWTH
The geospatial sector on its own has seen tremendous growth in St. Louis over the past several years, with major geospatial firms locating and expanding in St. Louis in response to the new NGA St. Louis expansion. Additionally:
- The Taylor Geospatial Institute was established to be a premier research institution helping to develop new applications for geospatial science and the Taylor Geospatial Engine was established to assist in commercializing new geospatial technologies.
- Project Connect launched, helping to build greater connections between the geospatial sector and the neighborhoods in which the NGA’s new facility will be located.
- A number of higher education and workforce development providers have established programs and curricula to grow the talent pipeline for St. Louis’ geospatial industry.
- NGA established Moonshot Labs in T-REX, which serves as an unclassified space for the agency to collaborate with other partners in the academic, public and private sector.
Munsell will step into his new role as St. Louis’ geospatial ecosystem is shifting into a new phase of growth.
Opportunities for cross-sector collaboration with the region’s other thriving industry sectors, particularly agtech and biosciences, are on the rise.
Additionally, St. Louis is well-positioned to become the country’s center for defense tech, with congressional passage last year of the National Geospatial Innovation Hub Advancement Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.
In advance of the legislation’s passage, its sponsor, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt, hosted a roundtable meeting in St. Louis with geospatial industry leaders to unveil his plan for the program, which would develop a skilled workforce in geospatial technologies, methodologies, and capabilities to support the defense intelligence requirements of the Department of Defense. The pilot program, potentially housed at NGA St. Louis, is designed to attract more talent to St. Louis and establish St. Louis as a hub for defense technology.
ABOUT MARK MUNSELL
Prior to joining GeoFutures, Munsell most recently served as the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer and Director of Digital Innovation at NGA, where he oversaw the integration of the Agency’s AI efforts. He also held roles as the Chief Technology Officer and various operational and technical executive positions.
Mark began his federal career with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Norfolk, Virginia. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Mark returned to the area in 1996 through a transfer to one of NGA’s predecessor agencies, the Defense Mapping Agency. After successfully leading the update of the agency’s aeronautical production systems, Mark left DMA in 1997. After a stint with a government contractor, he founded Internet Marine and Aviation Planning Services, or IMAPS, in 2000 to offer flight and maritime planning services to individuals, industry, and government via the internet.
He returned to government service with NGA in 2006 and has since served as the Chief of the Precision Engagement Division, Office of Targeting and Transnational Issues; as the Senior Officer for Targeting Issues; as the Deputy Director, Aeronautical Navigation Office; and as Director, Office of Targeting and Transnational Issues.
Munsell is the recipient of the Presidential Rank Award and NGA’s Distinguished Civilian Medal, Department of Commerce Bronze Medal, and a host of other government leadership, and military awards.
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