OTTAWA (AP) — For the first time in its 31-year history, the Canadian Space Agency will have a female president.

The government announced Thursday that longtime public servant Lisa Campbell will take over as head of the agency. Campbell replaces Sylvain Laporte, who has been president since 2015.

Campbell has spent the last two years as senior executive for Veteran Affairs Canada. Prior to that, she spent three years as the assistant deputy minister for defense and marine procurement where she led the organization acquiring Canada's military and marine equipment.

"Her experience in defense pro...