Space Dynamics Laboratory Appoints Jennifer Bettencourt as CFO

Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory announced today that it has appointed Jennifer Bettencourt as its Chief Financial Officer, a corporate officer of the SDL Board of Directors. As CFO, Bettencourt oversees all aspects of financial management and strategy for SDL. Additionally, Bettencourt will serve as the director of SDL’s recently merged Business and Finance Division, overseeing multiple business units that support SDL’s operations. Both appointments are effective March 1, 2024. Bettencourt replaces Lyndon Loosle, who has announced his retirement. Loosle will retire on July 1, 2024, and will serve as an Executive Director and Special Assistant to SDL President Jed J Hancock to assist with transition activities until that date.

A seasoned leader and executive, Bettencourt becomes SDL’s first female officer. Prior to her role as CFO, Bettencourt served as director of program services at SDL, where she was responsible for pricing, subcontracts, contracts, project scheduling, supply chain management, and communications. A 24-year veteran of SDL, her tenure at SDL began in 2000 as a cost analyst. Bettencourt earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management from USU in 1992 and a Master of Business Administration from USU in 2004.

Headquartered on USU’s Innovation Campus, SDL is an independent non-profit corporation owned by USU. It employs 1,200 engineers, scientists, business professionals, and technicians who solve technical challenges faced by the military, science community, and industry and support NASA’s vision to explore the secrets of the universe for the benefit of all. SDL has field offices in Albuquerque, NM; Chantilly, VA; Dayton, OH; Huntsville, AL; Ogden, UT; and Stafford, VA.

As one of 15 Department of Defense University Affiliated Research Centers, SDL is both a trusted advisor to the U.S. government and a specialist in its areas of expertise, rapidly developing government-owned solutions to nationally significant challenges.