Blue Origin has appointed Tory Bruno as president of national security, tasking the longtime launch industry executive with leading a newly formed national security group as the company expands its role in U.S. defense and intelligence space missions.
The move, announced by Blue Origin in a LinkedIn post on Saturday, comes days after Bruno, a past Wash100 Award recipient, stepped down as president and CEO of United Launch Alliance, where he spent nearly 12 years overseeing Atlas, Delta and Vulcan programs. At Blue Origin, Bruno will report directly to CEO Dave Limp.
Why Is Blue Origin Elevating National Security Leadership?
Bruno’s arrival signals a sharper focus on national security at Blue Origin as the company works to translate recent contract wins into operational momentum. While Blue Origin has secured positions on major U.S. Space Force launch vehicles, it continues to trail competitors in fielded, certified launch capacity, Breaking Defense reported.
In April, the Space Force awarded Blue Origin a position under National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 2, allowing it to compete for high-value missions between fiscal years 2025 and 2029. However, the company’s New Glenn rocket has not yet completed the flight milestones required for full NSSL certification, a hurdle that rivals have already cleared.
How Does NSSL Contracts Shape the Competitive Landscape?
Under the Space Force’s Phase 3 Lane 2 awards, SpaceX and ULA were selected as the primary launch providers, while Blue Origin was positioned as a third provider. Lane 2 missions involve demanding orbits and must-go payloads, with launches typically contracted years in advance.
Blue Origin also holds a spot on the potential 10-year, $5.6 billion NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 contract.
Commenting on Bruno’s appointment, Limp expressed confidence in the new national security president’s capability to support the company in executing the said missions.
“We share a deep belief in supporting our nation with the best technology we can build,” the Blue Origin CEO wrote on X, adding, “Tory brings unmatched experience, and I’m confident he’ll accelerate our ability to deliver on that mission.”
