Jared Isaacman, CEO of Shift4, has helmed two private SpaceX spaceflights, in 2021 and 2024, and conducted a spacewalk.
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. The 41-year-old billionaire is a close associate of Elon Musk.
Isaacman will succeed Bill Nelson, who was appointed by President Biden in 2021 and flew on a Space Shuttle mission in 1986.
”Jared will propel NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration, enabling groundbreaking achievements in space science, technology, and exploration,” Trump stated on Truth Social.
Isaacman expressed his honor at the nomination, aiming to help “usher in an era where humanity becomes a true spacefaring civilization.”
“With President Trump’s support, we will never again lose our ability to journey to the stars and never settle for second place,” he wrote on X, adding that “Americans will walk on the Moon and Mars, improving life on Earth.”
In a letter to Shift4 employees, Isaacman stated his intention to “remain CEO until confirmation” and “retain most of his equity interest,” though he will reduce his voting power.
”After nearly 26 years leading Shift4, it’s time for a new chapter,” the entrepreneur wrote.
In 2021, Isaacman led SpaceX’s first all-civilian space mission.
Earlier this year, he led the Polaris Dawn mission, featuring SpaceX’s first commercial spacewalk. The mission tested technologies for future spaceflights. The two-hour spacewalk was live-streamed.
”From here, Earth looks like a perfect world,” Isaacman remarked during the spacewalk.
NASA collaborates with SpaceX for astronaut launches and ISS resupply. As NASA administrator, Isaacman would oversee multi-billion-dollar SpaceX contracts.