Bob Smith

CEO
Blue Origin

Speaker: Monday Closing Power Session - Launch Services Panel: Breaking Through the Bottleneck

Bob Smith is Chief Executive Officer for Blue Origin, a private space company developing vehicles and technologies that dramatically improve access to space for people and payloads. He is responsible for the development of Blue Origin’s launch vehicles, engine programs and its growing business operations. He reports directly to Blue Origin’s founder, Jeff Bezos.
Bob came to Blue Origin from Honeywell Aerospace. At Honeywell, he was the Vice President of Advanced Technology, the Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Engineering & Technology and, finally, the President of the Mechanical Systems & Components business. In those roles, his responsibilities spanned basic research, major system developments, production and business operations.
Prior to these roles, Bob served as Executive Director of the Space Shuttle Upgrades Development Program for United Space Alliance where he managed a variety of projects that ranged from very large efforts, such as major modifications that replaced the Orbiter’s auxiliary power and data handling systems, to smaller efforts, such as the development of new Shuttle tiles and landing systems.
Bob also worked at The Aerospace Corporation where he served as a guidance, navigation & control analyst and a program manager for a number of Department of Defense and national security programs. Bob eventually became the leader for all of Aerospace’s NASA business and the site manager for Aerospace’s Houston operations.
Bob holds a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering from Texas A&M, a Master of Science degree in engineering/applied mathematics from Brown University, a doctorate from the University of Texas in aerospace engineering and a business degree from MIT’s Sloan School of Management.