Pilot, Entrepreneur, Polaris Dawn Astronaut Passionate About Spaceflight Enterprise

Entrepreneur, pilot, philanthropist, and passionate spaceflight advocate Jared Isaacman has been nominated to be the next administrator of NASA, announced on Truth Social by President-elect Donald Trump.

Isaacman brings an exceptional passion for aviation and spaceflight to the table. As a 16-year-old he founded Shift4, an online payment service which turned into a multibillion-dollar enterprise. He has used his wealth to subsequently become a pilot and eventual founder and CEO of Draken International, a defense aerospace company that provides aviators and aircraft in training roles for the U.S. military.

Isaacman, call sign “Rook,” is rated in several military jets and has appeared at EAA Oshkosh with the Draken demo team flying his MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter sporting the Draken paint scheme.

He privately funded the Inspiration4 spaceflight using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon in 2021 as part of a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He subsequently pledged a $100 million donation to the hospital. In addition, he commanded the Polaris Dawn private spaceflight during which he became the first private citizen to perform a spacewalk.

In a reply on X, Isaacman said, “I am honored to receive President Trump’s nomination to serve as the next Administrator of NASA.  Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history.

“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.

“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.”

FMI:  www.nasa.gov/