President Donald Trump has nominated Jared Isaacman, to be NASA’s next Admiral. Jared is a billionaire entrepreneur, philanthropist and amateur jet pilot. Isaacman’s personal net worth is estimated at $1.9 billion. He’s made a name for himself as an adventurous spirit willing to play for big stakes in the aerospace industry. His nomination comes on the heels of his historic accomplishment. Last year, he made history by becoming the first non-professional astronaut to perform a spacewalk.
Isaacman, 42, first came to public attention by privately funding a mission through SpaceX. This made him the first person to walk in space, and it was a huge step forward for private space exploration. A clear passion for the aerial world accelerated when he began his own pilot training in 2004. 3 Surprises Later, he accomplished an incredible long-distance flyby, setting a Guinness World Record for fastest circumnavigation of the globe in a light jet. He has put hundreds of millions of dollars of his own into SpaceX over his career. This investment has allowed him to build deep connections with Elon Musk and the firm.
Following the nomination, Isaacman went to social media to thank them for the nomination. It will be an honor to serve in the role at NASA. His dedication to broadening the agency’s role in space exploration is apparent from his past remarks about the agency’s future course.
“We don’t have to make a binary decision of Moon versus Mars, or Moon has to come first versus Mars.” – Jared Isaacman
Trump lauded Isaacman’s credentials and passion for space exploration, and said they made him uniquely qualified to help lead NASA.
“Jared’s passion for Space, astronaut experience, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and advancing the new Space economy, make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new Era.” – Donald Trump
Isaacman’s fortune primarily comes from Shift4 Payments, a payment processing company he founded at the age of 16 in his parents’ basement. The company, which started with just three employees, has since evolved into a sizable force in the expanding financial technology industry. Nomination by Trump, Isaacman’s contributions to technology and their resulting impact on space recognizes a rare bipartisan moment. This of course is all despite his history of donating to Democratic candidates.
As NASA continues to navigate an evolving landscape of space exploration and commercial partnerships, Isaacman’s experience and vision may play a pivotal role in shaping the agency’s future. His appointment bodes well for increased coordination among private companies and public agencies, especially if President Biden’s infrastructure plan comes to fruition. Working in tandem, they can both push for bold exploration objectives.