Jared Isaacman Nominated to be NASA Administrator
Shift4 CEO was Commander of the Polaris Dawn and Inspiration4 Missions
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated entrepreneur Jarad Isaacman to be the next Administrator of NASA.
“I can confidently say this second space age has only just begun.”
Jarad Isaacman
Isaacman has financed and led two private missions into space carrying all-civilian crews. In 2021, Isaacman was commander of the Inspiration4 mission, which was the first orbital spaceflight with an all-private crew. Then earlier this year, Isaacman was commander of the Polaris Dawn mission, which saw the first spacewalk by a private astronaut. Polaris Dawn was placed in an elliptical orbit which saw the crew travel further from the Earth than any mission since the Apollo program.
"I am delighted to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, as Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Jared will drive NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in Space science, technology, and exploration," President-elect Trump said in a posting on X.
"Over the past 25 years, as the Founder and CEO of Shift4, Jared has demonstrated exceptional leadership, building a trailblazing global financial technology company. He also co-founded and served as CEO of Draken International, a defense aerospace company, for over a decade, supporting the U.S. Department of Defense, and our Allies.
"Jared’s passion for Space, astronaut experience, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and advancing the new Space economy, make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new Era.
Issacman acknowledged the nomination in a posting on X. "Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history," he wrote.
"On my last mission to space, my crew and I traveled farther from Earth than anyone in over half a century. I can confidently say this second space age has only just begun. Space holds unparalleled potential for breakthroughs in manufacturing, biotechnology, mining, and perhaps even pathways to new sources of energy. There will inevitably be a thriving space economy—one that will create opportunities for countless people to live and work in space. At NASA, we will passionately pursue these possibilities and usher in an era where humanity becomes a true spacefaring civilization.
"I was born after the Moon landings; my children were born after the final space shuttle launch. With the support of President Trump, I can promise you this: We will never again lose our ability to journey to the stars and never settle for second place. We will inspire children, yours and mine, to look up and dream of what is possible. Americans will walk on the Moon and Mars and in doing so, we will make life better here on Earth.
"It is the honor of a lifetime to serve in this role and to work alongside NASA’s extraordinary team to realize our shared dreams of exploration and discovery."
If confirmed by the Senate, Isaacman would succeed Former U.S. Senator and NASA Astronaut Bill Nelson, who has served as NASA administrator since May 2021.