Omar Pimentel

Omar Pimentel specializes in the intersection of commercial and national security space policy. Currently, he serves as the Policy and Strategy Lead for the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Space Portfolio. In this role, Omar spearheads initiatives to align the Department of Defense (DoD) with the rapidly evolving commercial space sector. Leveraging the Commercial Space Integration Strategy and DIU 3.0’s new mandate marked by directly reporting to the Secretary of Defense he works proactively to address policy and regulatory challenges that impact national security.

Collaborating with key regulatory agencies such as the FAA, FCC, and NOAA, he communicates emerging technologies and dual-use developments within the commercial space industry. This engagement ensures that regulators are prepared to adapt their processes ahead of technological advancements, overcoming historical delays where policy lags behind innovation. By facilitating this proactive approach, he aims to reduce regulatory burdens for commercial space companies, enabling them to experiment and deploy cutting-edge technologies more efficiently.

His efforts not only support the commercial market but also allow the DoD to leverage private sector innovations and investments, reinvigorating the DoD’s access to leading-edge space technologies without bearing the full cost of development.

Additionally, Omar leads the Space Portfolio’s international collaboration with Australia in alignment with AUKUS priorities. This includes facilitating the first launch of an American rocket from Australian soil and enabling the rapid and scalable return of space-manufactured goods. Through these initiatives, he strengthens strategic partnerships and enhances collective capabilities in space operations.

Prior to joining DIU, Omar served at NASA Headquarters’ Office of Technology Policy and Strategy (OTPS) and in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he advised on the House Higher Education, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Appropriations Committees.

Omar received his Master’s Degree in International Policy from Stanford University, where he led research on multi-domain nuclear deterrence and the politics of space and semiconductors at the Hoover Institution. He’s an inaugural Defense Innovation Scholar at the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation.

He holds a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Florida State University where he was the Student Body Treasurer, responsible for the $14 Million student government budget. In his free time, Omar enjoys golfing, Florida State football, cooking Dominican food, and reading everything related to space and history.