Major Arda Ayan graduated from the Turkish Air Force Academy in 2005 with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering and was stationed as a SHORAD (Short Range Air Defence) officer at the 6th Main Jet Base Anti-Aircraft Battalion Command. Following his Master’s degree in Space Sciences, in 2014 he was appointed as a satellite mission planning officer in the Reconnaissance Satellite Battalion Command within the Air Force Intelligence Department. In charge of Göktürk-1 and Göktürk-2 ISR Satellites, he took on the duties of Satellite Control Officer and Satellite Operators’ Supervisor, respectively, in the first and only military Earth observation satellite command and control centre in Turkey. Since August 2021, he serves as a Space SME at the JAPCC.