Founded by David Langan and Gabe Dominocielo, lifelong friends born and raised in Santa Barbara, CA.—Umbra is built on the premise that technology needs to evolve through innovation and the free market, and is owned and controlled by Americans who share a common history, values, and objectives.
Our Mission
To stay ahead of climate change, wildlife protection, and other major crises and issues, we need a global understanding of what is changing, where, and how fast.
About us
By providing easy access to the highest quality commercial satellite data available, we are an indispensable tool for the growing number of organizations monitoring the Earth to solve global issues.
An Introduction to Umbra
About Umbra
Umbra delivers on this vision by building cutting-edge products for our analytics customers solving complex business and security challenges for the United States and its allies.
Software: First Principles
Space Systems: First Principles
David LanganCEO, Co-founder
David Langan is Umbra’s CEO and Co-founder. He is an expert in space mission architecture formulation and operations, remote sensing, and the design, manufacturing, and testing of advanced space systems for commercial and U.S. government customers. David has contributed to U.S. commercial space policy development, serving from 2016-2020 as an appointee of two presidential administrations to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing (ACCRES).
Before founding Umbra in 2015, David held positions as a Systems Engineer, Technical Director, and Space Mission Architect at Orbital ATK (now Northrop Grumman) where he enjoyed 100% flight success across more than 18 satellite systems.
Gabe DominocieloPresident, Co-founder
Gabe Dominocielo is Umbra’s President and Co-founder. A life-long entrepreneur with endless energy, Gabe has worked with numerous blue-chip companies across several industries. Before Umbra, he co-founded and served as COO of a legal service company whose panel member attorneys generated more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements.
Gabe has served on the Space Generation Advisory Council and currently serves on USGIF National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and National Geospatial Agency (NGA) Working Groups. He sits on the Adelle Davis Foundation Board of Directors and previously served on the City of Santa Barbara’s Police and Fire Pension Commission and the Civil Service Commission before moving to Austin, TX.
Todd MasterCOO
Todd Master is Umbra’s COO. He has over 20 years of management and technical leadership experience in space systems. Prior to Umbra, he was a DARPA program manager where he created and managed CONFERS, a globally recognized body for on-orbit servicing operations standards, and DARPA Launch Challenge, a prize-based competition that catalyzed development of flexible and responsive space launch capabilities. He previously worked at Orbital ATK, International Launch Services, and served as an Air Force officer responsible for military and intelligence community space systems. Mr. Master has an M.S. in astronautical engineering from the University of Southern California and a B.S. in mechanical engineering and engineering & public policy from Carnegie Mellon University.
Kim KotnikExecutive VP
Kim Kotnik has 20 years of management consulting, business operations and business development experience. As a Principal at Booz Allen Hamilton, Kim led a large, global team operating on four continents, achieved P&L and other performance metrics across all programs, and delivered a 100% capture/business development win rate lasting more than 3 years. She subsequently owned her own small business where she implemented operational improvements and executed a successful exit to bank-funded buyers at a substantially improved valuation. Kim has an MBA from Georgetown University and a BA from UC Santa Barbara.
Matt SpeitelCFO
Matt Speitel has over 20 years of financial leadership experience in consumer markets and technology. Most recently, he was Vice President of Finance at Sientra, Inc. where he was global head of financial planning and played a significant role in the Company’s IPO and follow-on capital raises. Matt has also served as Interim CFO for various medical technology emerging growth companies with a focus on strategic planning, financial reporting and sales operations. In addition, Matt Speitel was previously Vice President of Finance at Guitar Center, Inc. and started his career holding various leadership roles in public accounting at KPMG LLC. Matt is a registered Certified Public Accountant in the state of California and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from California Lutheran University
Surfers. Sailors. StarCraft players. Stand-up comics. We welcome all stripes at Umbra. The one thing we all share in common is a passion for our mission and the work that follows from it.
Check our current openingsHQ in downtown Santa Barbara
Office in downtown Austin
Office in Washington D.C.
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