US-based
Firefly Aerospace, an emerging leader in economical launch vehicles, spacecraft, and in-space services, has announced that long-time aerospace and defence executive, Bill Weber, has been appointed as the company’s new CEO. Firefly is a portfolio company of AE Industrial Partners, a US-based private equity firm specialising in aerospace, defence and government services, space, power and utility services, and specialty industrial markets.
Mr Weber previously served as president, CEO, and director of KeyW Corporation, a leading provider of agile cyber operations and warfare, data analytics, and geospatial satellite payloads and sensors for US government intelligence and defence customers, as well as the commercial sector.
Peter Schumacher, partner at AE Industrial Partners, who served as interim CEO of the company, said: "Bill is a proven leader with an impressive record of helping companies successfully navigate change, making him the clear choice to lead Firefly during this transitional growth period. His deep experience and strong relationships across many areas of the aerospace and defence landscape will be invaluable as Firefly transitions to full-rate production across its portfolio of products.”
Mr Weber said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to lead a company at the forefront of critical, leading-edge space transportation solutions, and I am honoured to join the talented Firefly team. I respect and admire Firefly's innovative corporate culture, which has led to its success, and I know that the company is poised to achieve great things. I look forward to collaborating with the Firefly and AEI teams at this critical juncture in Firefly’s development."
Firefly has scheduled the second launch of its Alpha rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base for 11 September. It was also announced last month that Firefly has partnered with Northrop Grumman Corporation to develop an American-built first-stage upgrade for the Antares rocket and a new medium-lift launch vehicle to serve commercial, civil and national security space launch markets. This unique collaboration will develop US-built engines to replace the Russian-made RD-181 engines.