Spaceplane firm makes leadership pick ahead of key milestone
19th Jan 2023 | In News | By Michael Tyrrell
Sierra Space has made a leadership appointment as its first Dream Chaser spaceplane nears completion.
The company is developing what it calls the first end-to-end business and technology platform in space.
Seasoned aerospace executive, Steve Berroth, has joined the company’s leadership ranks. He will serve as senior vice president and general manager for the company’s space transportation sector.
The veteran aerospace leader has built a storied career at premier aerospace companies prior to Sierra Space, leading the development, manufacture and first flights of some of the most sophisticated crewed and autonomous aircraft in the world.
Berroth’s career covers nearly four decades and includes experience in advanced aircraft production and programme management at Northrop Grumman, Triumph Group and Aerion, where he led the programmes for first flights of various aircraft.
At Northrop, Berroth was program director for the highly complex Fire Scout MQ-8C, an uncrewed autonomous aircraft designed to provide reconnaissance, situational awareness, aerial fire support and precision targeting support for the US Armed Forces.
“I am delighted to welcome Steve to Sierra Space’s senior leadership team,” said Tom Vice, Sierra Space CEO. “Steve’s vast leadership and program management experience in launching new and complex aerospace programs in high-growth environments will be a great asset to our team as we accelerate the Dream Chaser program towards first flight this year.”
At Sierra Space, Berroth’s portfolio includes Dream Chaser, a multi-mission space utility vehicle designed to transport crew and cargo to low-Earth orbit (LEO) destinations such as the International Space Station (ISS).
The first Dream Chaser, Tenacity, is nearing completion and will subsequently ship to NASA’s Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility in Cleveland, Ohio, for final space environmental testing ahead of its first mission to the ISS later this year.
“It is a privilege to join Sierra Space at such a pivotal moment in the company’s upward trajectory,” said Berroth. “I am deeply looking forward to working with this incredibly talented team and helping ready the first Dream Chaser for launch. Reaching this key milestone unlocks so much rich potential as we develop the roadmap for a fleet of spaceplanes, two of which are already on the factory floor, and begin working on crewed variants that will take astronauts to Orbital Reef, the world’s first commercial space station.”
Berroth will be based out of Sierra Space’s facilities in Louisville, Colorado, and report to CEO Tom Vice.
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