Umbra Promoted Ashley Durmer to Chief Operating Officer
The satellite company tapped its former communications executive to lead day-to-day operations as part of a strategic shift.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in People
Live Poll
Do you view executive leadership changes as a sign of positive company growth?
Umbra, a developer of synthetic aperture radar satellites, announced the promotion of Ashley Durmer to chief operating officer. Durmer, who joined the company in early 2025, replaces former COO Todd Master in the role.
Why it matters
The leadership change arrives as Umbra focuses on scaling its business, which currently includes selling full satellite missions and an expanded portfolio of specialized hardware components.
Ashley Durmer brings 8 years of experience from her previous tenure at Ligado Networks to her new operational oversight role. Her predecessor, Todd Master, served as Umbra's COO for 5 years.
The players
Ashley Durmer
She is the newly appointed chief operating officer at Umbra who previously served as the company's vice president of Communications.
Todd Master
He is the former chief operating officer at Umbra who has transitioned to the role of chief strategy officer.
Umbra
This private aerospace company specializes in the manufacturing and operation of synthetic aperture radar satellites.
National Reconnaissance Office
This U.S. government intelligence agency manages the satellite reconnaissance systems used by the country's military and intelligence services.
The details
Umbra, which holds a Radar Commercial Augmentation sole source contract with the National Reconnaissance Office, is transitioning Todd Master to the position of chief strategy officer. The move reflects the company's broader effort to support growth following its expansion into the components market last year.
Timeline
Ashley Durmer joined Umbra as vice president of Communications in 2025.
Todd Master began his five-year tenure as COO in 2025.
Umbra expanded its operations into the components business in 2025.
Ashley Durmer was named chief operating officer on September 29, 2026.
Market Landscape
This leadership adjustment aligns the company's internal management structure with the rigorous delivery requirements of the National Reconnaissance Office's Radar Commercial Augmentation program. The move strengthens Umbra's competitive position as it scales hardware production alongside its existing satellite mission services.
For customers and government partners, this change signals a focus on stabilizing internal operations during a period of corporate growth. Clients should expect no immediate disruptions to current mission service levels or component procurement timelines.
The takeaway
Executive leadership changes often precede significant scaling efforts in the aerospace sector. Companies like Umbra frequently adjust internal structures to better manage the transition from research-focused satellite development to high-volume component manufacturing.
Further reading
For more on industry leadership trends, see our People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Via Satellite.
Live Poll
Do you view executive leadership changes as a sign of positive company growth?
