Maritime Launch Services has promoted from within for its next phase.

The Spaceport Nova Scotia developer named Sarah McLean chief operating officer. McLean is a founding member of the company's leadership team and has led its corporate affairs since the start.

Why it matters: Ottawa lists space launch among the sovereign capabilities in its Defence Industrial Strategy. Maritime Launch is building toward orbital launch operations, and its new COO's job is making sure the company has the people, systems and organizational capacity to get there.

The new job: As COO, McLean takes on expanded responsibility for corporate and organizational operations, including:

She'll keep leading corporate affairs while building the internal capabilities the company needs to support its growth and its progression toward orbital launch operations.

Founding member: McLean joined Maritime Launch when it was founded. As the executive responsible for corporate affairs, she has led:

She also supported key milestones, including capital raising, regulatory engagement and the Government of Canada's launch services agreement with Maritime Launch.

"Sarah has been instrumental in building Maritime Launch from its earliest days," said Stephen Matier, president and CEO. "Her experience, judgment and deep understanding of our business will be invaluable as we enter our next phase of growth."

Sovereign launch: McLean framed the spaceport as national infrastructure.

"Our team is developing critical national infrastructure that will strengthen Canada's sovereign launch capability and support our long-term economic and national security interests," she said.

That lines up with Ottawa's Defence Industrial Strategy. The strategy names space as the seventh of 10 key sovereign capabilities and lists space launch alongside space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, space domain awareness and satellite communications. It calls space "a sector of increasing importance to defence" and says Canada has a competitive advantage there.

Her résumé: McLean has 20 years of experience in corporate strategy, public affairs, governance and organizational leadership. Before Maritime Launch, she held senior leadership and advisory roles with:

She sits on the Board of Governors of Saint Mary's University and the Board of Directors of Genome Atlantic. She's an alumna of the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference and regional co-chair of its 2026 conference.

McLean holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Saint Mary's, along with IAP2 and ICS certifications, and is completing her executive MBA.

What's next: "My focus now is on ensuring we have the people, systems and organizational capacity to deliver on our ambitions," McLean said.