Chief Engineer, BAE Systems, Inc.
Justin Pierce is a seasoned aerospace engineer with a background spanning launch systems, flight test, and satellite development. He currently serves as Chief Engineer on a few small satellite programs at BAE Systems, Inc., where he leads technical execution to bring mission success. Previously, Justin was the Falcon/SpaceX Chief Engineer for the U.S. Space Force at Vandenberg Space Force Base, overseeing technical readiness and serving as Launch Commander for National Security Space Launch missions.
Earlier in his career, he supported flight test missions across Boeing and General Atomics, testing advanced aerospace systems over four different continents. He also led new entrant certification efforts for commercial launch providers and contributed to Spaceport of the Future initiatives aimed at modernizing U.S. launch infrastructure.
Justin is a former Defense Ventures Fellow, where he worked at the intersection of defense and commercial innovation. He is focused on accelerating the growth of the space economy by helping usher in an era of abundant mass-to-orbit and efficient space infrastructure.