Brig. Gen. Christopher Povak, former deputy director of the U.S. Space Force’s Space Warfighting Analysis Center, formally assumed the National Reconnaissance Office’s No. 2 post and took charge of the service branch’s intelligence element at a ceremony held Friday.

He will help NRO Director Christopher Scolese, a three-time Wash100 Award winner, to oversee strategic and tactical priorities, which include satellite reconnaissance capability, the office said Friday.

Povak will also lead service members assigned to the agency as commander of the Space Force Element, which became the 18th member of the Intelligence Community in January 2021.

He previously worked at NRO as deputy director of mission operations directorate from August 2015 to May 2016 and executive officer to the agency deputy director from July 2010 to July 2011.

His other assignments included commander of the U.S. Air Force Element at Royal AF Menwith Hill in the U.K., the Aerospace Data Facility Colorado and the AF Element Space Operations Wing.

Scolese said the satellite acquisition, operations and engineering experience Povak has gained over three decades “will be crucial in our ongoing efforts to bolster innovation and maintain America’s intelligence advantage in space.”

In a separate announcement, the Department of Defense said President Biden nominated Povak for promotion to the rank of major general.

Multi-industry executive Eric Schwartz has been named chief executive officer at data center builder and digital infrastructure services provider CyrusOne.

Schwartz was voted into office by CyrusOne’s board of directors and his appointment is effective October 1, the Dallas, Texas-based company said Monday.

Dave Ferdman, the founder of CyrusOne who has also been working as the company’s interim president and CEO for a little over a year as it searched for a permanent leader, commented that he anticipates a smooth and successful transition to Schwartz at the helm.

Ferdman, who plans to continue collaborating with the company as a board member, also noted that Schwartz will lead CyrusOne through “a new era of expansion.”

The newly appointed CEO’s career has spanned the telecommunications, real estate and finance industries. He was an engagement manager at management consulting firm McKinsey, executive vice president at Harold A. Dawson Company (now the Dawson Company) and spent the last 16 years at digital infrastructure company Equinix. 

At Equinix, Schwartz tallied accomplishments such as overseeing and growing business in the EMEA region, where he was responsible for high data center growth.

Additionally, in the last few years, Schwartz maneuvered into a stateside role as chief strategy and development officer of Equinix and he is reportedly known for both strong commercial ventures and influencing a positive corporate culture.

In March, investment firm KKR and Global Infrastructure Partners completed their acquisition of CyrusOne at an approximate $15 billion price tag. Schwartz is the leader the new owners have helped approve as the right fit for the enterprise going forward.

“Since the acquisition, Dave and the leadership team have done a great job growing CyrusOne with an ambitious investment program and focused execution, and I look forward to joining the Company and helping our team continue to achieve success,” Schwartz remarked.

The appointment of Schwartz follows the hire of data center services industry veteran Anthony Rizzo as vice president of CyrusOne’s public sector business in February.

Steve Thur, a nearly two-decade veteran of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has been named assistant administrator for oceanic and atmospheric research.

He will assume his new position in early October and will be responsible for leading NOAA’s research efforts related to weather, climate and marine ecosystems, the agency said Wednesday.

Thur most recently served as the director of NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, where he managed four marine laboratories and approximately 260 personnel.

He also served as the coordinator of NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program and worked as an economist at the Office of Response and Restoration.

“His scientific perspective and record of action on diversity, equity, justice and inclusion will be crucial as we work together to build climate resilient communities across the country,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad.

Thur holds a doctorate degree in marine policy from the University of Delaware’s Graduate College of Marine Studies.