Aerospace
10 commercial space launch licensing experts
These ten professionals have worked on FAA commercial space launch and reentry licensing, as licensing staff and leaders at the FAA and as licensing and regulatory leads at launch and spaceport companies. A reader can learn how practitioners approach commercial space launch licensing from people who have done the work.
Professionals to explore
01—10Alyssa Hodum
LinkedInExperience: License Compliance Analyst · Aurora Launch Services
License Compliance Analyst at Aurora Launch Services since 2024 and Regulatory Compliance Specialist there since 2025, after serving as License Technical Analyst (2022–2024). The profile says she leads licenses, permits and other government documents supporting an FAA-licensed commercial spaceport for Alaska Aerospace and Aurora Launch Services.
Ansel Collins
LinkedInExperience: Aerospace Engineer - Licensing Team Lead · Federal Aviation Administration
Aerospace Engineer - Licensing Team Lead at the Federal Aviation Administration (2011–2020), then Aerospace Engineer - Vehicle Licensing Program Lead (2020–2022). He has been Manager, Enterprise Operations Branch (ASA-110) in the Office of Commercial Space Transportation since 2022 and Acting Manager of the Safety Authorization Division since 2025; the profile describes leading a team that licenses and permits commercial space launches and reentries.
Austin Courtney
LinkedInExperience: Lead Regulatory Operations Engineer · ABL Space Systems
Former Lead Regulatory Operations Engineer (2023–2025) and Regulatory Operations Engineer (2020–2023) at ABL Space Systems; the profile says he worked with the FAA to author license documentation including a ground operations plan, flight safety plan and hazard analyses. He has been Senior Mission Safety Engineer at Rocket Lab since 2025.
Calvin Baker
LinkedInExperience: Senior FAA Compliance Engineer (FAA License Lead for New Glenn) · Blue Origin
Former Senior FAA Compliance Engineer (FAA License Lead for New Glenn) at Blue Origin (2023–2025); the profile says he acquired the New Glenn Part 450 operator license and managed the continuing accuracy of the application. Before that he was Spaceflight License Integration Lead (FAA License Lead for SpaceShipTwo) at Virgin Galactic (2021–2023), and he has been Commercial Space Program Manager at ARCTOS since 2025.
George C. Nield
LinkedInExperience: Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation · Federal Aviation Administration
Former Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation at the Federal Aviation Administration (2008–2018), where the profile says he was responsible for licensing and regulating all commercial launch activities; Deputy Associate Administrator (2003–2008) before that. He has been President of Commercial Space Technologies, LLC since 2018.
Logan Collins
LinkedInExperience: Lead Launch Regulatory Engineer · Firefly Aerospace
Lead Launch Regulatory Engineer at Firefly Aerospace since 2025; the profile says he leads launch licensing and regulatory activities supporting orbital launch operations, with a focus on FAA Part 450, flight safety and launch range coordination. Earlier he was a Systems Engineer, Launch Systems Integrator at Lockheed Martin (2023–2025).
Michael Wiktowy
LinkedInExperience: Aerospace Engineer - Office of Commercial Space Transportation · Federal Aviation Administration
Aerospace Engineer in the Office of Commercial Space Transportation at the Federal Aviation Administration since 2014; the profile says he works in the Safety Authorization Division on license application evaluation, rulemaking and advisory circular drafting support, and authorization transitions. Earlier he was a Structural Qualification Engineer at the Canadian Space Agency (1998–2010).
Milton Keeter
LinkedInExperience: Head of Launch, Safety, and Licensing · Astra
Former Head of Launch, Safety, and Licensing at Astra (2017–2021) and Director of Launch Safety and Licensing at ABL Space Systems (2021). He was then CEO of Alaska Aerospace Corporation (2021–2023) and Director of Commercial Programs at Integrated Launch Solutions (2023–2025); the profile lists licensing and Part 450 among his areas of work.
Nathan Nguyen
LinkedInExperience: Aerospace Engineer · Federal Aviation Administration
Aerospace Engineer at the Federal Aviation Administration since 2024, after a Student Intern role there (2022–2024). The profile lists him as license lead for Exos Aerospace and Vaya Space, deputy for several other launch operators, and a subject matter expert in pre-application consultation, evaluation and post-determination activities such as modifications, renewals and waivers.
Rachita Puri
LinkedInExperience: FAA Licensing Lead | Office of Commercial Space Transportation · Federal Aviation Administration
Former FAA Licensing Lead in the Office of Commercial Space Transportation at the Federal Aviation Administration (2020–2026); the profile says she managed project teams conducting policy, payload, safety and environmental evaluations for commercial launches and reentries. She has been New Glenn Regulatory Compliance Engineer III at Blue Origin since September 2026.
Choose the right perspective
Decide whether you need the regulator's view of how applications are evaluated or the applicant's view of preparing and maintaining a license, and pick from the matching side. Then match the person's experience to your vehicle or site, since orbital launch, suborbital flight and spaceport licensing involve different work.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What should a launch company have ready before its first pre-application meeting with the FAA?
- 02Which parts of a launch license application take the longest to prepare, and why?
- 03How do you keep a license application accurate as the vehicle design and mission plans change?
Reaching commercial space launch licensing experts
How can I contact one of these commercial space launch licensing experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 6 companies, including Aurora Launch Services, Federal Aviation Administration and ABL Space Systems, based on profile data retrieved on October 9, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach commercial space launch licensing experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these commercial space launch licensing experts a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
Request a correction or removal