Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice talks to employees in front of the company’s Dream Chaser space plane on October 30, 2023 in Louisville, Colorado.
Helen Richardson | Helen H. Richardson The Denver Post | Getty Images
CNBC confirmed on Monday that Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice has left the company.
Vice retired on Dec. 31, Sierra Space said in a statement.
A spokesperson for Sierra Space said in a statement: “Tom Vice has retired as CEO of Sierra Space at the end of 2024 after three and a half years in the role. We thank him for his leadership and wish him the best in his retirement. “
Sierra, which was spun off from aerospace contractor Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) in 2021, is one of the most valuable U.S. private companies in the emerging aerospace sector. Valued over $5 billion. But Sierra Aerospace has been working hard to launch the first mission of its reusable cargo spaceplane, the Dream Chaser, which is critical to the company becoming a major player in the industry.
Vice was named CEO of Sierra Space in 2021, months after SNC owners Fatih and Eren Ozmen spun out the company from investors including General Atlantic, Coatue, BlackRock and AE Industrial Partners. Vice used to be Aerion Supersonic CEOa startup that planned to build high-speed business jets, closed in April 2021.
The first “Dream Chaser” aircraft was originally scheduled to debut in 2021. Need to start.
Dream Chaser won a contract from NASA to fly seven cargo missions to and from the International Space Station. Sierra Space said Tenacity aims to launch no earlier than May.
The company continues to develop its Inflatable space station technologyas well as extending to products linear satellite bus After winning high profile Pentagon contract worth $740 million last year.
Sierra Space layoffs Vice’s tenure, as well as a number of changes in senior management positions. But Vice talked about it many times last year Sierra Space plans to go publicoutlining a tentative path to an IPO as early as late 2025.
