This former hacker saw the light—and now wants to collect all of it
Summary
Dan Roelker is a tech expert who started as a hacker and has worked in software development, cyberwarfare, and now builds telescopes and optics. He founded a company that focuses on using light in new ways, believing future space advancements will rely on controlling light both in space and on Earth.Key Facts
- Dan Roelker grew up in a working-class family and studied math and philosophy in college.
- He first worked with computers as a hacker and software coder during the dot-com boom.
- Roelker helped start Sourcefire, a cybersecurity company later bought by Cisco for $2.7 billion.
- He worked in cyberwarfare with major defense contractors and was recruited by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
- At DARPA, Roelker managed cyberwarfare programs, becoming one of the youngest program managers.
- In 2025, he co-founded Observable Space, a company focused on advanced telescope and optics technology.
- He believes future "space races" will focus on harnessing light for data and navigation, including laser data transmission from orbit.
- Roelker’s work ties together space observation, laser technology, and satellite safety.
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