Tory Bruno, the former CEO of United Launch Alliance (ULA), has transitioned to Blue Origin, where he will serve as president of the newly established National Security Group. This change represents a significant development in the competitive landscape of the commercial space industry, as Blue Origin intensifies its rivalry with SpaceX.
Bruno, who has a 30-year history at Lockheed Martin and led ULA for 11 years, had previously collaborated with Blue Origin on the development of the BE-4 engine. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Blue Origin, announced the leadership change on social media, expressing enthusiasm about their future collaboration. Blue Origin's CEO Dave Limp emphasized Bruno's extensive experience and its importance for advancing the company’s technology in support of national security.
In terms of market positioning, ULA has seen a decline in its launch operations compared to SpaceX, which has achieved 165 launches this year alone. Bruno is expected to focus on securing more national security contracts, particularly leveraging the New Glenn rocket, which has yet to secure full certification from the Space Systems Command.