Tuesday, April 11, 2023 5208 View all Fort Lewis College news Alumna confirmed as newest member of FLC Board of Trustees Stacey DeFore (Business Administration, ‘94) was confirmed to the FLC Board of Trustees this week, beginning the role of a lifetime for her as a student advocate and partner to her alma mater. “This is one of the most important jobs I’ll have in my career,” DeFore said. “Being a first-gen college graduate, I understand the importance of having someone advocate on your behalf. I’m honored to be stepping into a role to support students.” DeFore sees herself as a messenger and storyteller on behalf of students. She wants to help students transition into the workforce by introducing new strategic partners to their stories and capabilities. Essential experience DeFore’s career has been a blend of academic, government, and industry roles across Colorado. She brings essential experience in engagement and strategic growth to the FLC Board of Trustees. DeFore is responsible for stakeholder engagement and government relations at Lockheed Martin Space, aligning customer and stakeholder engagement to planning for growth in existing and emerging markets across all lines of business. Stacey DeFore was confirmed as FLC's newest member of the Board of Trustees on April 5, 2023. Before joining Lockheed Martin Space, DeFore was the director of strategy and business development for Teledyne Brown Engineering Space Systems Segment. She was responsible for shaping opportunities for segment growth and sustainment of programs with objectives for human and robotic missions. DeFore also held the role of director of government relations and strategic engagement at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She developed and executed university stakeholder mapping, special projects, and outreach aligned with the university’s strategic roadmap. She focused on partnership development, emphasizing industry workforce pipeline curriculum and capital campaigns for the Advanced Manufacturing Sciences Institute. A champion for students DeFore is eager to be a conduit for students at the beginning of their careers through collaborations with other colleges, government partners, and agencies. Additionally, she’s committed to ensuring that the curriculum at FLC translates into the skills and workforce needs of state industries. This is one of the most important jobs I’ll have in my career. Being a first-gen college graduate, I understand the importance of having someone advocate on your behalf. I’m honored to be stepping into a role to support students. Stacey DeFore Since 2018, she has served on the Business Advisory Council for FLC’s School of Business Administration. “We’re excited to be joined by a very successful alumna who has made a critical impact on Colorado’s economy and has long supported FLC’s workforce development and university partnerships,” said FLC President Tom Stritikus. DeFore’s other service roles include vice chair of the Colorado Aerospace States Association, which Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera chairs, and several industry, association, non-profit, and academic boards throughout Colorado. In 2021, DeFore was acknowledged by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce as one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Colorado, and in 2020 she received the Colorado Space Business Roundtable’s Cosmic Contributor Award. DeFore is also the proud recipient of the Club 20 Johnson-Theos Bridge Builder Award for her work on the Western Slope. Colorado Governor Jared Polis appointed DeFore earlier this year, and on April 5, she was confirmed by the Colorado Senate Education Committee. DeFore will serve on the FLC Board of Trustees for a four-year term. Additionally, trustees Adam Red and Janet Lopez were reconfirmed for four years. “I’m humbled at the opportunity to work alongside the other trustees,” DeFore said. “We have an amazing strength in the current board, and there is absolute passion in the trustees who are united in a mission to serve the College, students, faculty, community, and administration.” DeFore is ready to continue the board’s progress in workforce development and community partnerships, and in bolstering the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts FLC has been instrumental in leading in the Four Corners region. “FLC has always had that as a tenet and mission, to be a leader and pathfinder for the future,” she said. “We’re at an inflection point. This work is really important to me.”