Chase Kassel began serving as Legislative Affairs Specialist at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in September 2024. His job is to liaise with Members of Congress and their staff to educate them and their constituents about NASA’s programs, missions, and priorities. Prior to working for NASA, Chase was the Portfolio Manager for Arizona State University’s Interplanetary Initiative where he managed a seed-funding portfolio of space-related pilot projects, developed and coordinated an integrated space business development and corporate partnership program across the ASU ecosystem and the State of Arizona, and led the university’s Orbital Reef partnership.

Chase has an extensive history in government and politics, working for then-Representative Martha McSally (R-AZ) in her DC office; the House Science, Space and Technology Committee under Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) as his Director of Member Services and Coalitions; then as the Political Director for Rep. McSally’s U.S. Senate Race and as Legislative Liaison in Senator McSally’s state office. 

Chase has his Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Communication Studies and a minor in International Communication from Northern Arizona University. He received his Master’s degree in Global Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, graduating with distinction and specializing in Space Leadership, Business, and Policy.