United Launch Alliance CEO Resigns Amidst Competitive Pressures

The CEO of United Launch Alliance, Tory Bruno, has resigned after twelve years in his position to pursue another opportunity, as announced by the company. ULA chairs Robert Lightfoot and Kay Sears expressed gratitude for Bruno's service and leadership.

His resignation comes amid increasing competitive pressures in the launch market, with companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin gaining momentum. ULA, formed from the merger of Boeing and Lockheed Martin's space launch businesses, has seen its market share decline as SpaceX has won numerous government contracts.

During Bruno's tenure, he oversaw the development of the Vulcan rocket, aimed at reducing reliance on Russian launch vehicles and keeping pace with competitors. The Vulcan project faced significant delays and finally completed its inaugural launch in 2024, a decade after its development began.

Despite these challenges, Vulcan has secured customers like Amazon and Astrobotic. Following Bruno's departure, ULA has appointed Chief Operating Officer John Elbon as interim CEO while seeking a permanent replacement.

In a statement, Bruno indicated he felt his work at ULA was complete and expressed his support for the company moving forward.