EnduroSat Appoints Aerospace Veteran Paul “Rusty” Thomas as CEO of EnduroSat USA to Lead Expansion and Drive Innovation in U.S. Space Market
EnduroSat, a global leader in satellite infrastructure and end-to-end space services, has officially announced the appointment of Paul “Rusty” Thomas as Chief Executive Officer of EnduroSat USA. The appointment represents a major strategic step in the company’s ongoing effort to accelerate its footprint in the United States space market, targeting the delivery of fixed-cost, highly configurable, and mission-ready satellite solutions to commercial, defense, and governmental clients.
In his new capacity as CEO of EnduroSat USA, Thomas will be responsible for building and managing U.S. operations, driving strategic partnerships, cultivating relationships with key customers, and delivering on EnduroSat’s core mission: to simplify access to space through a unified, modular approach to satellite design, production, and mission execution.
Rusty is a perfect fit to lead our U.S. business efforts because of his deep industry knowledge and extensive experience delivering groundbreaking space technologies to both commercial enterprises and government agencies,” said Raycho Raychev, Founder and CEO of EnduroSat. “As we scale our presence in the United States—ranging from satellite integration and testing to mission operations—his visionary leadership will be critical in supporting our clients as they pursue the next wave of innovation in orbit.”
A Proven Leader in Space Infrastructure
Paul “Rusty” Thomas brings over 35 years of space industry experience to the role, having been at the forefront of some of the most significant satellite and space infrastructure projects in recent history. His career includes senior leadership positions at both private and public space organizations, demonstrating his exceptional ability to scale technologies, streamline production processes, and bring bold ideas from concept to reality.
Thomas played a pivotal role at Motorola, where he helped develop the Iridium satellite network, the world’s first large-scale commercial satellite constellation. This foundational work laid the groundwork for a new era of global satellite communication.
Later, during his tenure at SpaceX, Thomas was instrumental in the development and production of the Dragon spacecraft—the first commercial spacecraft to deliver cargo to the International Space Station—as well as the creation of the reusable landing legs for the Falcon 9 rocket, which marked a breakthrough in cost-effective orbital launch.
His career continued to ascend through high-level roles including leading the U.S. Department of Defense’s Project Blackjack, a landmark demonstration program focused on building and deploying a proliferated Low Earth Orbit (LEO) architecture to improve global situational awareness, data processing, and resilience in contested environments. Thomas also founded and led Amazon’s Kuiper Government Solutions (KGS), the branch of Project Kuiper focused on delivering secure satellite-based broadband services to public sector clients. Most recently, he served as Chief Technology Officer for Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser spaceplane, a next-generation orbital vehicle designed to support NASA and other mission partners.
This diverse and accomplished background positions Thomas as a high-impact leader for EnduroSat USA, especially as the company enters a phase of rapid scaling and innovation.
EnduroSat is uniquely positioned to fundamentally transform how we approach satellite missions and space operations,” said Thomas in a statement following his appointment. “The company’s next-generation modular satellite platforms and vertically integrated space services enable developers and mission operators to get to orbit faster, with more reliability, and at a fraction of the cost. Our vision is to enable more organizations—regardless of size or background—to leverage space as a powerful tool for research, communications, defense, and beyond.”
Revolutionizing Access to Space
At the heart of EnduroSat’s vision is the modular ESPA-class satellite bus platform, a revolutionary satellite infrastructure product that eliminates much of the traditional complexity of satellite integration and deployment. Designed to support a wide range of missions—from Earth observation and scientific exploration to military communications and commercial data services—the ESPA-class buses are designed for rapid manufacturing, payload flexibility, and mission-agnostic support.
EnduroSat is currently ramping up its manufacturing capabilities and aims to produce up to 60 modular satellites per month by the end of 2025. This aggressive production goal is made possible by a standardized, highly configurable design architecture that reduces development cycles and simplifies testing and validation.
These scalable satellite solutions are expected to dramatically reduce time-to-orbit, allowing mission owners to bring innovative technologies to space more quickly, test and validate in real conditions, and iterate based on real-world feedback. The model provides a tangible advantage for developers of payloads, sensors, scientific instruments, and communication systems, who often face long development timelines and high integration costs in traditional satellite programs.
Thomas emphasized that this kind of acceleration is crucial for today’s rapidly evolving space ecosystem.
Our customers need to move faster and iterate more frequently to stay competitive and relevant in the space domain,” he said. “With EnduroSat’s approach, we’re removing the bottlenecks that have traditionally delayed or derailed satellite missions. We’re offering an integrated path from mission planning to deployment that supports agility, performance, and affordability.”
A Growing U.S. Footprint
EnduroSat’s U.S. expansion includes a new operational hub in Denver, Colorado, where the company offers comprehensive space services, including mission architecture, satellite assembly, integration and testing (AIT), and launch coordination. The Denver facility houses a state-of-the-art cleanroom, as well as a fully operational mission operations center (MOC) capable of supporting real-time satellite telemetry, tracking, and command for U.S.-based and international customers alike.
This local presence allows EnduroSat to serve U.S. clients more directly, offering end-to-end mission support without requiring reliance on overseas facilities or third-party integrators. The integration of satellite bus development with launch support, ground services, and mission management gives EnduroSat USA a distinctive advantage in an increasingly competitive market.
In addition to its technical presence in Denver, the company is actively establishing a dedicated team in Washington, D.C., focused on developing strong relationships with federal agencies, defense contractors, and government partners. This includes aligning EnduroSat’s offerings with U.S. national space strategy goals, secure communications initiatives, and rapid-response capabilities for both civilian and defense needs.
We’re committed to being a trusted partner to the U.S. government and its mission-critical programs,” said Thomas. “Our team in Washington will ensure we’re aligned with the highest standards of compliance, security, and performance expected in public sector projects.”
EnduroSat’s Bold Vision for the Future
Founded in 2015, EnduroSat has rapidly built a reputation for disrupting legacy satellite business models through its modular satellite platforms, software-defined architecture, and mission-as-a-service framework. The company has delivered successful missions in low Earth orbit, partnered with organizations in over 30 countries, and launched payloads across a variety of sectors—including Earth observation, IoT, academic research, national security, and AI in space.
As demand for faster, more cost-efficient access to orbit continues to grow, EnduroSat aims to position itself at the center of this movement. With its next-generation satellite infrastructure, vertically integrated services, and now a robust U.S. leadership team under Rusty Thomas, the company is charting a course toward becoming a leading enabler of the global space economy.
The opportunity to lower barriers to space and enable faster innovation is immense,” said Raychev. With Rusty at the helm in the U.S., we’re confident in our ability to deliver impactful solutions, help our partners achieve mission success, and continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in orbit.”
