Ramon Sanchez is the Chief Operating Officer at Firefly Aerospace Inc., a pioneering aerospace company focused on responsive space launch vehicles and lunar landers. With more than 25 years of experience in the aerospace and defense sectors, Ramon began his career as a systems engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he contributed to the Mars Exploration Rover mission. He later advanced through leadership roles at Boeing and Orbital ATK, managing complex supply chains, propulsion development, and high-volume satellite production, establishing himself as a visionary in scalable space operations. Throughout his career, Ramon has driven transformative achievements, including leading the integration of additive manufacturing techniques that reduced rocket component costs by 40% at his previous firm and overseeing the successful execution of over 100 commercial launches. His strategic oversight during a major merger at Orbital ATK streamlined operations, saving millions while accelerating delivery timelines. Recognized with the AIAA Space Operations Award, Ramon’s expertise in risk mitigation and agile methodologies has consistently delivered missions on budget and ahead of schedule. At Firefly Aerospace, Ramon spearheads all operational functions, from manufacturing and testing of the Alpha launch vehicle to mission control and customer payload integration. Under his guidance, the company achieved its first Alpha orbital flight in 2023 and is scaling production for the medium-lift Beta rocket and Elixir lunar lander. Ramon’s focus on innovation and workforce development has positioned Firefly as a leader in the New Space era, enabling rapid, reliable access to orbit for small satellite constellations.