Full Name
The Honorable Jared Isaacman
Job Title
United States Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Speaker Bio
Jared “Rook” Isaacman is the 15th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Isaacman graduated from Embry‑Riddle in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics, and in 2024, he received an honorary doctoral degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. At the age of 16, Isaacman founded United Bank Card, a payment processing company, from his parents’ basement. The company was later renamed Shift4 and serves hundreds of thousands of businesses across the globe. In 2020, Shift4 went public, and in 2025, Isaacman left his role as CEO.
Isaacman’s entrepreneurial spirit extended to aerospace. In 2011, Isaacman co-founded Draken International, which provides training to U.S. military pilots. The company currently services and manages one of the world’s largest private fleets of fighter jets. Outsourcing this critical role to the private sector has saved taxpayers billions of dollars. Isaacman sold the company in 2019.
In 2021, Isaacman commanded Inspiration4, the first all-civilian orbital spaceflight aboard the Dragon spacecraft. The mission was a major milestone in commercial spaceflight. The three-day flight orbited Earth, raising over $250 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. Three years later, he led another human spaceflight mission, Polaris Dawn. Reaching an altitude of almost 900 miles, this was the farthest humans have traveled from Earth since Apollo 17. Isaacman performed the first commercial spacewalk, and both missions incorporated dozens of science experiments and achieved milestones that advanced the cause of crewed spaceflight.
On Nov. 4, 2025, President Donald J. Trump nominated Isaacman to be the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and he was formally confirmed by the United States Senate on Dec. 17, 2025.
Isaacman’s entrepreneurial spirit extended to aerospace. In 2011, Isaacman co-founded Draken International, which provides training to U.S. military pilots. The company currently services and manages one of the world’s largest private fleets of fighter jets. Outsourcing this critical role to the private sector has saved taxpayers billions of dollars. Isaacman sold the company in 2019.
In 2021, Isaacman commanded Inspiration4, the first all-civilian orbital spaceflight aboard the Dragon spacecraft. The mission was a major milestone in commercial spaceflight. The three-day flight orbited Earth, raising over $250 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. Three years later, he led another human spaceflight mission, Polaris Dawn. Reaching an altitude of almost 900 miles, this was the farthest humans have traveled from Earth since Apollo 17. Isaacman performed the first commercial spacewalk, and both missions incorporated dozens of science experiments and achieved milestones that advanced the cause of crewed spaceflight.
On Nov. 4, 2025, President Donald J. Trump nominated Isaacman to be the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and he was formally confirmed by the United States Senate on Dec. 17, 2025.
Speaking At
