Patrick Besha
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Besha studies the political economy of outer space, with a focus on US-China strategic competition. The founder of the Global Space Group consultancy, he is on the faculty of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Over two decades in government, he served as the Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Administrator at NASA Headquarters, focusing on global space exploration strategy, economic and policy evaluations of major civil/commercial space initiatives, national security space issues, and international relations.
He was previously the overall lead for Asia (China and India), and the Middle East in the Office of International and Interagency Relations at NASA, where he negotiated landmark agreements and leadership summits. Proficient in Mandarin Chinese and Samoan languages, he is a former Boren China Fellow (Beijing and Hangzhou) and returned Peace Corps Samoa volunteer.
He recently provided expert testimony to Congress on China's space program and American leadership in space. His insights have appeared in The Economist, The New Yorker and other major publications. He has authored or edited volumes for NASA, OECD, World Bank, World Economic Forum, United Nations, multiple university-led initiatives, and academic journals. Most recently, he co-authored NASA's Planetary Defense Strategy, and co-edited The Economic Development of Low-Earth Orbit. He received his PhD in Public Policy from George Washington University with a dissertation focused on China's national innovation system, renewable solar energy and space technology.