Meyonka Gray ’13: Shining Knights Alumna 2018

By Meyonka Gray ’13

Receiving the UCF 30 Under 30 Award in 2018 and the prestigious Shining Knights Alumni Award in 2019 was a humbling set of milestones that served as a reminder of how far I’ve come, yet how much more I aspire to achieve. After the global challenges of 2020, my journey continued in 2022 when I accepted a role as Program Manager at Anduril Industries, a cutting-edge defense tech startup based in Costa Mesa, California. Over the next two-and-a-half years, I had the privilege of working alongside brilliant minds and contributing to projects that were shaping the future of defense technology.

However, my passion for leadership, global citizenship, and space exploration ultimately led me to a new chapter as Head of Strategic Operations at Satlyt, a dynamic software-focused space startup. At Satlyt, we are striving to be the pioneers in interconnecting satellites—both in Earth’s orbit and across inter-constellatory networks. It’s an exciting and challenging role that pushes the boundaries of technology and will, without a doubt, shape the future of how humanity connects across the stars.

My long-term plans beyond Satlyt, focus on transhumanist agendas, human-centered technology, and the exploration of television and film as a medium to create consciousness and caution around the use of emerging technologies.

As we approach new frontiers in both space and technology, I am committed to shaping narratives and innovations that prioritize humanity’s well-being and ethical considerations, ensuring that we navigate this rapidly evolving landscape with both curiosity and responsibility. This recognition and journey only fuel my drive to continue pursuing impactful work at the intersection of deterrence defense, space, technology, and storytelling with global citizenship and care for humanity at the center of it all.