TOKYO—June 15, 2023—Today, ispace, inc., (ispace) announced that former NASA astronaut and U.S. Air Force Colonel (Ret), Ronald J. Garan Jr., has been named CEO of ispace technologies U.S., inc.
Mr. Garan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business economics from the State University of New York College at Oneonta, a Master of Aeronautical Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Florida.
In July 2000, Mr. Garan was selected for the U.S. astronaut program and joined NASA. He made his first space flight in 2008, on the STS-124 Space Shuttle mission. This mission delivered and installed the Japanese Module (Kibo) to the International Space Station (ISS). His second flight to space was in 2011 aboard a Soyuz spacecraft for a 6-month mission to the ISS. In total he has spent more than 178 days in space and more than 27 hours of extravehicular activity during four spacewalks. Prior to joining NASA, he was an F-16 fighter pilot and test pilot in the U.S. Air Force (USAF), logging more than 5,000 hours of flight time in over 30 different aircraft. Mr. Garan also served as an instructor pilot at the prestigious USAF Fighter Weapons School, the U.S. Air Force version of the U.S. Navy’s “Top Gun.”
In addition to his NASA and USAF career, Mr. Garan is a serial entrepreneur and has founded and led multiple for-profit, non-profit, and social enterprise organizations. He also has extensive experience in the space industry, most recently as the President of a U.S.-based commercial space company, successfully guiding it through a significant period of growth.
With a staff of more than 60 U.S. employees, ispace technologies U.S., inc., based in Denver, Colo., is currently developing ispace’s Series-2 lunar lander in preparation for its third mission, currently scheduled for 2025. Mission 3 represents a significant milestone for ispace technologies U.S. As a member of Team Draper, ispace technologies U.S. will transport NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) payloads to the lunar orbit and surface. Under Garan’s leadership, ispace technologies U.S. expects to steadily grow its business in the United States.
“I am very excited to welcome Ron as the CEO of ispace technologies U.S.,” said Takeshi Hakamada, Founder & CEO of ispace. “Ron is committed to our cislunar ecosystem vision and strongly believes that the sound development of the ecosystem is necessary to secure human life on Earth. Moreover, his career as an astronaut has not only given him exceptional leadership abilities, but also a great sense of humanity and decency.”
“I am honored to join the ispace team,” said Ron Garan, CEO of ispace technologies U.S. “The Moon holds the key to not only expanded exploration of the solar system and beyond, but also to improving life on Earth. I look forward to helping this amazing international team develop lunar infrastructure and enable a permanent human presence on the Moon for the benefit of all.”