Astrotech appoints Nihanth Badugu as chief operating officer

AUSTIN, Texas - Astrotech Corporation (NASDAQ:ASTC), currently trading near its 52-week low at $5.08 per share, has appointed Nihanth Badugu as Chief Operating Officer, effective August 13, 2025, the company announced Monday.

Badugu, 37, has served as Astrotech’s Director of Program Management since August 2023, where he led initiatives focused on operational efficiency and program completion. Prior to joining Astrotech, he worked as NPI Program Manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific from 2020 to 2023, where he led the launch of COVID-19 diagnostic products. He previously held the position of Senior Program Manager at PVA Consulting Group from 2017 to 2020.

"The Board is thrilled to promote Mr. Badugu to Chief Operating Officer," said Thomas B. Pickens III, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Astrotech Corporation. "Nihanth has been an invaluable asset to Astrotech since joining us in 2023."

Badugu holds a Bachelor of Science degree from York University.

Astrotech Corporation develops mass spectrometry technology through several subsidiaries, including 1st Detect for security and narcotics screening, AgLAB for agriculture industry analyzers, and other specialized applications.

The information in this article is based on a press release statement from the company.

In other recent news, Astrotech Corporation announced the appointment of Jennifer Cañas as its new Chief Financial Officer. Cañas has been with the company as Corporate Controller since June 2022 and brings over two decades of financial leadership experience to her new role. Her previous experience includes serving as Controller of The Texas Water Company and founding a tax and financial advisory firm. Chairman and CEO Thomas B. Pickens III expressed confidence in her capabilities, highlighting her strong leadership and consistent delivery of solid results. Cañas’s background also includes time at PricewaterhouseCoopers, enhancing her strategic financial leadership and accounting expertise. These developments are part of Astrotech’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its leadership team. The company did not release any new earnings or revenue results in this update.

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