BlackVe Expands to MaxQ@Kirtland, Advancing a New Model for National Security Space
BlackVe recently announced that it has signed a lease to establish a new operations facility at MaxQ@Kirtland, marking another milestone in the campus’s growth as a hub for next-generation national security space companies.
Founded by Peter Wegner, a veteran of more than two decades in U.S. Air Force space programs and former CTO of commercial geospatial intelligence company BlackSky, BlackVe is building an agile, end-to-end space systems company designed to bring commercial-speed and innovation into the national security space domain.
With approximately 40 employees already based in Albuquerque, and plans for continued growth, BlackVe’s expansion reflects both immediate demand and a long-term commitment to scaling advanced space capabilities in one of the country’s most strategically important space regions.
What sets the company apart is its rare ability to operate within the government national security space environment from day one, an often overlooked but critical barrier that prevents most startups from entering this sector.
Q&A with Peter Wegner, Co-founder + CEO of BlackVe
Q: For those just meeting BlackVe, what is the company building, and why now?
Wegner: We started BlackVe around the idea that there’s incredible innovation happening in the commercial space sector, but much of the national security space world hasn’t kept pace. It’s still dominated by legacy players and slower models.
We are building an agile space company that can bring commercial innovation into that national security environment faster, with greater adaptability, and better aligned to the evolving threat landscape. In many ways, we’re building a company that can compete with the traditional primes, but with a fundamentally different speed and approach.
Q: Your background spans both government and commercial space. How does that shape BlackVe’s approach?
Wegner: I spent about 20 years in the Air Force working on satellite and launch programs, and later helped build BlackSky as its CTO. That combination of experiences is critical. Our team has a deep understanding of national security space missions, the critical gaps, and how to integrate disruptive and innovative solutions into current operations.
There’s a real barrier to working in the national security space domain. You need the right access to even see the RFPs and mission needs, but you first need a contract to get access. It’s a real chicken-and-egg problem. It’s a very difficult market to break into. Because our team understands how to navigate that system, we’ve been able to establish the necessary access and contracts very quickly. That’s a big part of what makes us different, and why we can operate in spaces where many others can’t.
Q: BlackVe recently signed a lease at MaxQ@Kirtland. What made this the right move?
Wegner: At a basic level, we have active contracts today, and we need the facilities to execute them. Our customers are asking us every week where we are in standing up that capability. MaxQ provides the infrastructure to do that immediately.
Beyond that, it’s really about proximity. Being located directly at Kirtland [Air Force Base] allows us to work closely with organizations like the Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Systems Command, Space Rapid Capabilities Office and Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories. That kind of access is incredibly valuable and hard to replicate anywhere else.
Q: How does MaxQ change your ability to execute and grow?
Wegner: It removes friction. Instead of traveling back and forth to engage with customers we’re embedded right where the work is happening. That accelerates everything: collaboration, decision-making, and mission delivery. In national security space, speed matters. Having a location where you can stand up programs and operations and directly engage with partners is a real advantage.
Q: You’ve mentioned plans beyond the initial facility. What’s next for BlackVe in Albuquerque?
Wegner: The MaxQ facility gives us the operational base we need right now.
At the same time, we’re already planning a dedicated spacecraft manufacturing capability, something like a 15,000-square-foot high-bay facility with cleanroom space. That would likely be adjacent to our MaxQ headquarters and is part of how we scale the company here.
As we grow beyond our current team of about 40 in Albuquerque, we see this becoming a long-term center of gravity for the company.
Q: Why Albuquerque, and how does it compare to other major space markets?
Wegner: Albuquerque is uniquely positioned, especially for national security space. You have a dense concentration of organizations in the vicinity, such as the AFRL [Air Force Research Lab], Sandia [National Laboratories], SpRCO [Space Rapid Capabilities Office], Los Alamos [National Laboratory], Space Systems Command, White Sands Missile Range and Spaceport America. These create a strong technical and customer base.
There are thousands of people here working on space every day, along with infrastructure and test capabilities that are hard to replicate elsewhere. When you look at the broader landscape, we think in terms of key markets like Southern California, Colorado Springs, and Huntsville, and Albuquerque absolutely belongs in that group. In many ways, this is the hub for research and development in national security space.
Q: What would you say to other companies considering MaxQ@Kirtland?
Wegner: If your focus is national security space, it’s hard to find a better location. The combination of customers, technical depth, and aerospace infrastructure makes it a very compelling place to build and grow.