Kim joins Firefly from Millennium Space, a Boeing subsidiary specialising in small satellites primarily for US government agencies, where he served as CEO.
Firefly Aerospace has announced the appointment of Jason Kim as its Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2024. With more than 20 years of experience in the aerospace and defence industries, Kim brings a wealth of executive leadership and technical expertise to the company, positioning Firefly for rapid growth and continued innovation.
Before joining Firefly, Kim served as CEO of Millennium Space Systems, where he led the company through a period of significant expansion and technological progress. His career also includes key leadership roles at Raytheon Intelligence & Space, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, and the US Air Force. Throughout his career, Kim has held positions in executive leadership, programme management and business development, with experience in various aerospace and defence systems, including satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles, rocket launches and on-orbit mission operations.
Kirk Konert, Chairman of the Board at Firefly Aerospace, said: “Jason Kim’s deep industry expertise, coupled with his proven ability to lead high-performing teams and execute strategic growth initiatives, makes him the ideal leader for Firefly Aerospace. We are confident that under his leadership, Firefly will continue to achieve major milestones across our launch, lunar, and on-orbit programs.”
In his new role, Kim will oversee a team of more than 700 employees as Firefly continues its efforts to launch the Alpha rocket, land the Blue Ghost on the Moon and orbit the Elytra vehicle this year. Leveraging his extensive background in aerospace innovation, product development and production, Kim will also manage the ongoing development of Firefly’s Medium Launch Vehicle and scale up the production of the company’s rockets and spacecraft.
Jason Kim added: “I have long admired Firefly’s relentless drive and innovative spirit, particularly during our collaboration on the VICTUS NOX mission for the US Space Force. I am honoured to join this unstoppable team and look forward to building on Firefly’s success and leading the company into a new era of category-defining achievements in the industry.”
Kim is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Air Force Academy Foundation and serves on the Executive Committee for Space Workforce 2030. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the US Air Force Academy, a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles Anderson School of Management.
