Shaping the future of life in space requires a dynamic group of passionate humans here on Earth. Vast’s versatile and ambitious team includes experts in a variety of disciplines to make this future happen.
Team experience at a glance
The Vast team
Jed is a software engineer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is renowned for founding Vast, Stellar, the Astera Institute, Ripple, and the eDonkey Network.
Max is an aerospace, consumer electronics, and internet entrepreneur. Founded, scaled, and successfully sold four companies including Launcher (acquired by Vast), Mevo (acquired by Logitech), and Livestream (acquired by IAC/Vimeo).
Nearly 20 years in the legal and technology sectors, notably being SpaceX's first legal counsel based on-site at its California headquarters. Formerly General Counsel and early team member at other successful space companies.
Proven track record of building and leading transformative R&D and Engineering teams across various tech fields, including space vehicles, quantum computing, imaging systems, and scientific instruments. Most recently the Vice President of Avionics at SpaceX.
Over 20 years of investment banking experience advising high-growth companies in the technology, consumer, and industrial sectors. Proven expertise in public and private M&A, IPOs, and capital raises at Rothschild & Co. and previously at J.P. Morgan.
An Emmy-winning designer and storyteller who led product innovation at Google, Apple, and Starlink. A commercial pilot best known for her role as SpaceX’s first Director of Design, leading the visual strategy and narrative development for a transformative new era of human spaceflight under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
Over 20 years of experience designing, building, and operating critical infrastructure and systems for aerospace and other industries. He has been a security, infrastructure, and systems leader at SpaceX, Virgin Orbit, Reliable Robotics, and others.
An engineer with a decade of experience in the aviation industry, she has held significant roles at industry leaders like Airbus. Proficient in driving strategic initiatives, she leverages her multicultural background and leadership skills to contribute to organizational success.
Over 15 years of experience leading People & Talent teams in high-growth aerospace and tech startups including Relativity Space, Onica, and a popular dating app. Strategy and management consulting experience with Deloitte, Samsung, and Luminary Labs.
Over two decades of spaceflight experience in sales, design, production, launch, and operations at startups, primes, and U.S. Government positions spanning the entire space architecture, including national security programs, lunar missions, and commercial space stations.
Accomplished engineering leader with over 15 years of experience at SpaceX, NASA JPL, Muon Space, and Zipline. Part of the initial SpaceX Starshield team, and supported Falcon 9, Crew Dragon, and Cargo Dragon across various functions including flight power systems, mission operations, and avionics.
Over 20 years of experience transforming and leading Supply Chain Operations teams within aerospace. Scaled operations teams for Blue Origin, Sierra Space, and Orbital ATK.
Led the SpaceX Dragon propulsion components team from concept to first human flights. Developed propulsion components for Falcon 9 that have flown on over 260 missions as of November 2023 and helped develop the initial power and actuator architecture for Starship.
Led the development of world class factories and office spaces including the first high volume production lines at SpaceX supporting the Starlink program, and facilities used by SpaceX's Dragon, Falcon 9, and Starship assembly and test teams.
Over 30 years of experience in the field of human spaceflight mission operations with leadership positions at NASA, Axiom Space, Collins Aerospace, and Bigelow Aerospace. Led operations personnel in the successful execution of International Space Station (ISS) assembly activities and the first three Private Astronaut Missions to the ISS.
Over 20 years of experience in communications and public affairs across government, corporate, and hyper-growth startups, including Uber, SpaceX, and Chime. Expertise in corporate, policy, and strategic communications, focusing on scaling teams and driving impactful narratives.
Over 20 years experience in the space sector, including time in government (NASA), the non-profit sector, at aerospace start-ups, and as a consultant. Previously worked at the White House, leading the development of National Space Policy, and was the first Washington, DC hire at Planet Labs.
Nearly 20 years marketing, selling, and delivering private astronaut flights to the International Space Station, including the flights of Richard Garriott, Charles Simonyi, Guy Laliberte, Yusaku Maezawa (MZ) and Yozo Hirano. Previously was President at Space Adventures.
Over 40 years of experience in space commercialization, international relations, program and business management, investment, and systems engineering. Led business plan evaluations at NASA, investing $1.6 billion in commercial space enterprises including CLD and COTS.
Previously the Additive Manufacturing Manager at Launcher. Managed one of SpaceX's Raptor Program's Additive Manufacturing Labs, where she designed, developed, and manufactured Raptor engine components for Starship SN1-15.
15 years of experience in business intelligence and marketing. Previously Head of FP&A and Business Intelligence at Launcher, Head of Business Intelligence and Advertising at Mevo, and Head of Business Intelligence at Livestream.
Over 30 years of experience designing and developing propulsion systems for various launch vehicles, and theoretical modeling of operating processes during rocket engine design and development.
Founding team member of Launcher. Developed and built E-1 thrust chamber propulsion components and test stand. Led E-2 propulsion component and engine development and testing at NASA SSC.
Previous Vice President of Mission Assurance for SpaceX, contributing significantly to the company's pioneering efforts in space exploration including human spaceflight.
Experienced Regulatory & Government Affairs executive with a strong background in Space Law, Policy Analysis & Advocacy, Legal Compliance, Politics, and International Relations.
Propulsion expert and was VP of Propulsion at SpaceX at the end of his 12 year tenure at the company. Direct contributions to all SpaceX boost engines including Merlin and Raptor, as well as additive manufacturing.
World-renowned industrial designer instrumental in the design of Apple’s iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches, as well as environments such as Apple’s stores and HQ, and materials and processes.
Previous Avionics Lead for SpaceX Dragon. Currently at Apple leading the user design and validation of the Apple Vision Pro, and previously at Waymo as the Self-Driving System Architect.
25 years of experience, including roles as Chief Revenue Officer at Voyager Space and Vice President for Global Sales at Blue Origin. Demonstrated knowledge of the Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) market, sales pioneer for the human suborbital spaceflight at Blue Origin.
Supported the Dragon Production Testing department at SpaceX for nearly a decade as a test technician and test specialist directly supporting Demo-1 & -2, Crew-1 thru -7, Inspiration4, and Axiom-1 & -2.
Supported requirements development and design of a crewed transportation system at Virgin Hyperloop. Designed and managed the build of tooling to support all Launcher One production activity at Virgin Orbit.
Responsible engineer for SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Cargo Dragon thermal control system, supporting 8 different missions including Demo-2, Crew-1 & -2, Inspiration4, CRS-12, and CRS-21 thru -23.
Over 15 years of experience at SpaceX leading Dragon ECLSS and TCS teams for Dragon 1 and 2, designing Merlin and Raptor engines, designing Draco thrusters, designing Dragon 1 TCS and propulsion systems, and serving as mission operator for various Dragon missions.
Over 15 years of experience at SpaceX designing critical GNC hardware and software for Falcon 1, Falcon 9, Cargo Dragon, and Crew Dragon.
Supported the development of SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Cargo Dragon, and Paragon's Gateway HALO Module Environmental Control and Life Support System.
A decade of experience designing mechanisms for a variety of aerospace systems including human rated space vehicles at Blue Origin, space robotics systems at Maxar, and major portions of the Boeing 777 cargo systems.
Dana is board certified in Emergency Medicine and Aerospace Medicine with more than a decade of experience caring for humans on all 7 continents, beneath the sea, and in space. He holds faculty appointments with Baylor College of Medicine and the Massachusetts General Hospital.
15 years of experience in human and robotic spaceflight, including NASA’s certification of Crew Dragon, mission operations for multiple Cargo Dragon missions to the ISS, and Program Management for two lunar mission payloads at Honeybee Robotics.
Responsible for welding and fabrication on SpaceX's Demo-1 & -2, Crew-1 thru -7, Inspiration4, and Axiom-1 & -2.
Supported the design, development, test, verification, and manufacturing production support of high performance avionics hardware for Virgin Orbit's Launcher One.
Led SpaceX’s Falcon software team for all crewed flights -- Demo-1, Crew-1 thru -7, Inspiration4, Axiom-1 & Axiom-2. Implemented software for all Falcon missions from 2012 thru September 2023 including Starlink, Dragon, and commercial spaceflight missions.
25 years of experience developing astrodynamics software and GNC systems, including core algorithms for STK, mission design, operations, and GNC algorithms for SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Starshield spacecraft.
Responsible for SpaceX's Falcon 9 second stage primary structure for the NASA Crew upgrades, Falcon Heavy thrust structure, Starship Super Heavy booster aft dome re-design, and various structural redesigns to comply with NASA standards.
Astronauts
