highperformr logo

Charles Frank Walker

Chief Operating Officer, Aerwave
Chicago, Illinois,United States
Find Charles Frank Walker's Email
Find Charles Frank Walker’s Phone

Charles Frank Walker's Overview

Total Experience25 years
CompanyAerwave
CountryUnited States

Charles Frank Walker is an American engineer and former astronaut who flew on three Space Shuttle missions as a Payload Specialist for McDonnell Douglas. He was the first non-governmental, commercially-sponsored astronaut to fly in space. His primary role was to operate the Continuous Flow Electrophoresis (CFES) experiment, a project developed by McDonnell Douglas in conjunction with Johnson & Johnson, aimed at purifying pharmaceutical products in the microgravity environment of space. Walker is an alumnus of Purdue University, holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. His career has been dedicated to aerospace engineering, particularly focusing on space commercialization and microgravity research.

Professional Summary

Charles Frank Walker's work history includes a series of influential roles in various companies. Here is a detailed list of his professional journey:

Aerwave - Chief Operating Officer (2023 to Present)
Equity Residential - AVP IT (2018 to 2022)
Sentinel Technologies - Manager - Enterprise Project Management Office (2013 to 2018)

Notable Achievements

First Non-Governmental Payload Specialist

Made history as the first industry-sponsored (McDonnell Douglas) astronaut to fly in space, paving the way for commercial involvement in space missions.

Three Space Shuttle Missions

Flew aboard three Space Shuttle missions: STS-41-D (Discovery, 1984), STS-51-D (Discovery, 1985), and STS-61-B (Atlantis, 1985), accumulating over 20 days in space.

Continuous Flow Electrophoresis (CFES) Operations

Successfully operated the CFES experiment on all his missions, contributing to research in bioprocessing and pharmaceutical development in microgravity.

NASA Space Flight Medals

Awarded NASA Space Flight Medals for his participation in Space Shuttle missions, recognizing his contributions to the U.S. space program.

Advocate for Space Commercialization

Has been a long-standing advocate for the commercial use of space and has contributed to policy discussions and industry development in this area post his astronaut career.

Educational Background

B.S., Network Technologies, Philosophy

DePaul University - Year 2001

Buying Intent Signals for Charles Frank Walker

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right people at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance

Company Overview

Aerwave
Total employees35
HeadquartersDallas
Founded2019

Aerwave is a technology company specializing in providing managed Wi-Fi solutions for multi-family residential properties, including apartment buildings, student housing, and senior living communities. They offer a turnkey internet service that property owners can provide as an amenity to residents, aiming for seamless connectivity, high speeds, and robust network management. For residents, this means instant-on internet access without the hassle of individual provider setups. For property managers, Aerwave offers a way to enhance property value and resident satisfaction with a modern, essential utility.

Aerwave Funding Information
- Total Funding Raised
$20M - Most recent funding amount
2 - Number of funding rounds
Aug 1, 2022 - Latest funding round
Lead Investors:
Moderne Ventures
WBOC
Alumni Ventures
Kairos Ventures
Second Century Ventures

Highperformr's free tools for company research

Find contact info

Get verified emails, phone numbers, and LinkedIn profile details

Find similar contacts

Discover contacts with similar roles, seniority, or companies

Perform deep contact research

Uncover insights like skills, work history, social links, and more

Discover, research and enrich contacts with Highperformr — Smarter, Faster

Explore contacts in-depth — from verified emails and phone numbers to LinkedIn activity, job changes, and more — all in one powerful view.

Highperformr AI helps you surface the right people and enrich your CRM with live, accurate contact insights so your teams can connect faster and close smarter.

  • Track signals like job change, promotion, and LinkedIn activity
  • Enrich contacts with verified email, phone, and social data instantly
  • Automate enrichment and updates with powerful workflows
  • Sync enriched contact info directly into your CRM and tools

Thousands of contacts — including decision-makers, influencers, and ICP matches — are just a search away.

Thousands of companies, including, are just a search away.