Chris Emerson Joins Firefly Aerospace Board of Directors
Chris Emerson, a seasoned industry leader with decades of aerospace expertise, has joined the Firefly Aerospace Board of Directors, effective immediately.
"I'm excited to offer my counsel as Firefly looks to build off its successful launch earlier this month."
Chris Emerson.
Chris Emerson brings over 25 years of aerospace experience in space, commercial aviation, U.S. defense, and rotorcraft. He is the former Chairman & CEO of Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc., where he developed and executed a strategy to grow Airbus' U.S. space business. Earlier this month, Emerson joined AE Industrial Partners, LP ("AEI") as an Operating Partner, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of AEI portfolio companies' Belcan and The Atlas Group. Previously, he served as President of Airbus Helicopters, Inc., and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Airbus. Mr. Emerson started his career with the Daimler - Mercedes Benz team which later formed Airbus. He holds a BS degree from the University of Alabama.
"Chris Emerson is a respected leader with an extensive background in aerospace and defense, including his many years at Airbus, and we're thrilled to welcome him to Firefly's Board," said Bill Weber, Firefly CEO. "His track record of driving innovation in business as well as in technology will be a tremendous asset as Firefly works with our commercial customers to help them address their growing space transportation needs."
"I'm excited to offer my counsel as Firefly looks to build off its successful launch earlier this month," Emerson said. "Firefly is one of a handful of companies with the proven technology and expertise to offer customers affordable space transportation solutions, and I look forward to collaborating with Firefly's team during this new stage of the Company's evolution."
Chris Emerson Joins Firefly at a Critical Time for the Company
With the recent successful launch of Firefly's Alpha FLTA002 mission, Firefly became the first company to launch and reach orbit from U.S. soil in only its second attempt. Firefly is also the first and only U.S. commercial space company with a rocket ready to take customers to space in the highly desired 1400kg payload lift class.
Firefly was also recently selected by the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC) to provide launch services for SSC's VICTUS NOX mission, and the company's Space Transport Services was recently selected by NASA to provide launch services for some of the agency's Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) missions. Firefly and Northrop Grumman Corporation also recently announced they had joined forces to provide an American-built first-stage upgrade for the Antares rocket and a new medium launch vehicle to serve commercial, civil and national security space launch markets.
Firefly is a portfolio company of AE Industrial Partners ("AEI"), a U.S.-based private equity firm specializing in aerospace, defense & government services, space, power & utility services, and specialty industrial markets.
(Source: Firefly news release. Image from file)