Selling the Final Frontier

Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc., the aerospace and space travel concern founded in 2004 by billionaire businessman Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson, has announced an updated leadership structure by which the company intends to further its ambition of commencing commercial spaceline operations by the second quarter of 2023.

Subject organizational changes are intended, also, to support the company’s near-term objectives of increasing the frequency of Virgin Galactic spaceflights, and rapidly developing a fleet of commercial spacecraft.

As part of the leadership shake-up, not the first or the last we fear, Swami Iyer departed his position of President, Aerospace System on 12 January 2022. To ensure a smooth transition of executive power, Mr. Iyer will continue to serve as an advisor to Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier through 03 March 2023.

Mr. Colglazier remarked: "With the completion of the enhancement program for our mothership at hand, our streamlined leadership structure will help propel the business forward as we prepare for commercial spaceline operations. Swami has been instrumental in establishing our future production strategy and in leading the work to prepare our initial ships for commercial flight, and we are incredibly grateful for his contribution. Our experienced leadership team brings deep expertise to the next exciting phase for the Company – flying our customers safely and regularly to space and expanding our future fleet."

Virgin Galactic’s updated leadership roster includes:

• Mike Moses: President of Spaceline Missions and Safety. Following a seventeen-year stint at NASA, Mr. Moses has led flight and mission operations at Virgin Galactic since 2011.
• Mike Moore: Executive Vice President of Spaceline Technical Operations. Mr. Moore joined Virgin Galactic in 2022 following a long and successful tenure with Delta Airlines. In his new position, Moore’s team will work to ensure atmospheric and supra-atmospheric vehicles are manufactured, maintained, and sustained to the highest standards of quality, reliability, and efficiency.
• Steve Justice: Senior Vice President, Spaceline Programs and Engineering. A 39-year veteran of Lockheed-Martin and a "legend" at its storied and secretive Skunk Works division, Mr. Justice will lead the design, engineering, and program management of Virgin Galactic's spaceflight system and future fleet development.

Of further note is the announcement that Virgin Mother-Ship (VMS) Eve (N348MS) is expected to enter ground tests next week for purpose of allowing engineers to vet recent upgrades to the unique twin-fuselage aircraft prior to the commencement of flight testing.

FMI: www.virgingalactic.com