Aerospace
10 SpaceX executives
These ten current and former SpaceX executives and vice presidents, including SpaceX's CFO, have led finance, HR, launch vehicles, Starship, Starlink and commercial sales at the company. A reader can learn from them how SpaceX's leadership team has run rocket engineering and production, Starlink's business and sales, and company finance and people operations.
Professionals to explore
01—10Bret Johnsen
LinkedInExperience: CFO · SpaceX
CFO of SpaceX since May 2011 (current), a C-level role in Finance & Accounting at a company the profile describes as designing, manufacturing and launching advanced rockets and spacecraft. He was also CFO at Mindspeed Technologies (2008–2011), VP Corporate Controller at Broadcom (1999–2008) and an Auditor at PwC (1991–1995).
Brian Bjelde
LinkedInExperience: SVP, HR & Operations · SpaceX
SVP, HR & Operations at SpaceX since August 2014 (current). His profile says he transformed HR practices at SpaceX to align with aggressive growth and innovation targets and played a pivotal role in scaling the workforce while maintaining a cohesive culture. His other SpaceX roles include Senior Director, Product and Mission Management (2009–2014), Product Director, Falcon 1 Launch Vehicle (2006–2009), Mission Manager (2004–2008) and Avionics Engineer (2003–2005).
Chris Trautner
LinkedInExperience: VP, Falcon and Dragon Engineering · SpaceX
VP, Falcon and Dragon Engineering at SpaceX since May 2025 (current); the profile headline reads VP, Falcon Vehicle Engineering at SpaceX. His SpaceX rows also include Senior Director, Falcon Vehicle Engineering (2023–2025), Director, Falcon Vehicle Engineering (2022–2023), Senior Manager, Falcon Vehicle Engineering (2021–2022) and Manager, Falcon Vehicle Engineering (2019–2021).
Joe Petrzelka
LinkedInExperience: VP, Starship Engineering · SpaceX
VP, Starship Engineering at SpaceX since January 2021 (current), a President/Vice President-level role in Engineering and Technical; his profile headline reads VP, Booster Engineering at SpaceX. His other SpaceX roles include Senior Director, Dragon Engineering (2019–2021), Director, Dragon Engineering (2018–2019), Senior Manager, Falcon Engineering (2017–2018) and Manager, Falcon Mechanisms (2016–2017).
Jon Edwards
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President of Falcon and Dragon · SpaceX
Senior Vice President of Falcon and Dragon at SpaceX since January 2026 (current); his profile says he leads the teams responsible for both programs and oversees design, build, test, launch operations, cost, reliability and performance. His other SpaceX roles include Vice President of Falcon Launch Vehicles (2020–2026), Senior Director of Vehicle Engineering (2016–2020), Falcon 9 Product Director (2014–2016) and Director of Stage Propulsion Systems (2013–2014).
Jonathan Hofeller
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Starlink Commercial Sales · SpaceX
Vice President of Starlink Commercial Sales at SpaceX since August 2019 (current). At SpaceX he was also Vice President of Commercial Sales (Launch and Private Astronaut) (2015–2019), Director, Business Development (2013–2015) and Manager, Business Development - Middle East and Asia (2007–2013).
Lauren D.
LinkedInExperience: VP, Starlink Business Operations · SpaceX
VP, Starlink Business Operations at SpaceX since May 2023 (current); the profile headline reads At SpaceX since 2006 and Leading the Starlink Broadband business. The profile also lists Sr. Director, Starlink Business Operations (from 2021), Sr. Director, Human Resources and Business Operations (2019–2020) and Director, Human Resources and Business Operations (2015–2019) at SpaceX.
Phil Alden
LinkedInExperience: VP, Starship Production · SpaceX
VP, Starship Production at SpaceX since April 2023 (current), a role the profile places at Starbase, South Texas. He was also VP of Starlink Production at SpaceX (2022–2023) and Senior Director of Production at SpaceX (2012–2022), and General Manager at BMW Group (2001–2012).
Tom Ochinero
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President Commercial Business · SpaceX
Former Senior Vice President Commercial Business at SpaceX (2022–2024), a role his profile describes as head of all commercial launch sales, business development and international coordination. At SpaceX he was also Vice President of Commercial Sales (2019–2024) and Senior Director of Commercial Sales (2014–2019). He has been Chairman & Founding Partner at Interlagos since April 2024.
Zachary Dunn
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Vice President of Production and Launch · SpaceX
Former Sr. Vice President of Production and Launch at SpaceX (2018–2020), a role the profile lists at Executive level, and former Vice President of Launch at SpaceX (2016–2018). He has been Chief Operating Officer at Relativity Space since February 2023, and held Senior Vice President of Engineering and Manufacturing (2020–2023) and Vice President of Factory Development (2020) there.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's program and function to your question, since a Starship or Falcon engineering leader sees different decisions than a finance, HR or sales executive. Check each role's dates so you know whether the person's SpaceX experience is current or from an earlier period.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How does SpaceX decide which parts and systems to build in-house versus buy from suppliers?
- 02What does a commercial or government customer need to know when negotiating a launch or Starlink contract with SpaceX?
- 03How does SpaceX organize engineering and production teams to move quickly from design to flight?
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.
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