Vaya Space, Inc. has announced that Brent David Willis has joined their company as Chief Executive Officer, replacing CEO Grant Begley, who will continue with the firm as a member of the Board of Directors.
Selected as CEO Innovator of the Year in 2021 by the Golden Bridge Business Awards, one of the preeminent global business programs, Brent has had a career of developing breakthrough strategy and leading industry transformations. In addition to serving in the U.S. Military, he has had a long track record of success as a senior executive in many multi-billion-dollar multinational companies, including leading the development of the of the strategy that created the world’s largest beer company Anheuser-Busch InBev.
Vaya Space’s patented 3D printed hybrid engines deliver greater than 25% lower cost and are fueled with recycled plastics, using more than 2 million plastic bottles per launch. Vaya demonstrated their smallsat launch sector efficacy with their successful launch earlier this year and are taking orders now for future planned launches.
“Getting back to my Aerospace roots where I started my career is incredibly exciting and joining a purpose-driven company like Vaya is humbling,” said Brent David Willis. “Vaya has competitive-advantaged technology that will not only disrupt the market with safe and sustainable access to space, but will also help humankind. We have the right technology, the right team, the right motivation, and are at the right time and place in history to lead in this very attractive industry.”
NASA’s first US. born Hispanic Astronaut and Shuttle Commander, and current Vaya Space Chairman, Sid Gutierrez, said, “We are so excited to have Brent join our leadership team. Brent is a mission-oriented and values-centric leader that fits in perfectly with our culture. We are confident that his experience in developing transformative strategies in major multinational companies will translate to Vaya Space becoming the leader in the Space Industry.”
Navy Captain, Top Gun pilot and the former CEO of Vaya Space, Grant Begley, said, “It has been one of my life’s great privileges over the past few years to have led Vaya Space, and I am very pleased and confident to be handing over the reins to Brent. I am proud of all we have done at Vaya including receiving our most recent patent for Vaya’s Star-3D printed rocket fuel, and am equally proud of the impact that I know the new discoveries at Vaya Space will have on the world.”
Vaya Space is a private, hybrid rocket company based on the Space Coast of Florida with subsidiary operations in Brazil. Vaya Space has developed breakthrough and patented technologies that transform access to space. Vaya Space was selected as a GrowFL company to watch for growth and innovation in 2022. Following its successful launch and most recent patent awarded in early 2022, Vaya Space is positioned to lead the burgeoning small satellite launch market within the broader $385 billion-dollar space industry. Vaya is a sustainability focused and environmentally conscious enterprise, that produces hybrid rocket engines using recycled plastics as fuel. Vaya Space’s unique Star-3D printed engines generate >800 kN of thrust, capable of placing more than 1,000 kg of payloads into low earth orbit. Vaya delivers safer launches at a greater than 25% lower cost, utilizing more than 2 million recycled plastic bottles per launch. The Company is currently taking orders for upcoming additional planned launches.
