Canadian Space Agency President Sylvain Laporte is leaving after serving one term

Last fall SpaceQ asked Canadian Space Agency (CSA) President Sylvain Laporte if he was going to stay for a second term beyond his mandate which expires this month. We now have an answer.

Yesterday the department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) which includes the CSA in its portfolio, posted the following Tweet announcing the job opening and search.

“Want to help take #Canada to the stars? @csa_asc is searching for a president. Apply today to be considered for this position and play a leadership role in maximizing the scientific and #economic benefits of #space exploration: http://ow.ly/zISC50yKkrE #GCJobs”

Laporte will not immediately leave his job. The CSA told SpaceQ Thursday evening that “to ensure continuity in leadership of the Canadian Space Agency during the appointment process, M. Laporte’s appointment has been extended for six months.”

Continuity and an orderly hand over to Laporte’s successor is important and something that hasn’t always happened at Canada’s space agency.

Laporte was appointed President of the CSA on February 27, 2015. He will have served five and half years, the second longest tenured leader of the CSA behind only William “Mac” Evans.

He brought new leadership to the agency and much needed stability. The CSA has a long history of leaders who stayed in the job for a short time.

Applications are now being accepted. The job brings with it a salary of between $206,600.00 – $243,000.00 a year and plenty of travel. Applications are being reviewed starting April 8, 2020.