Jared Isaacman, tech billionaire who made the first private spacewalk in collaboration with Elon Musk's SpaceX, has been nominated by US President-elect Donald Trump to head NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Trump, who announced his third run for the presidency on X Wednesday, said that Isaacman had led Shift4 for 25 years and co-founded Draken International, a defence aerospace company he also ran as CEO, where for over a decade, it helped the US Department of Defence and its allies.
"I am thrilled to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, as Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA. Jared will drive the mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in Space science, technology, and exploration," the US President-elect said.
"Over the past 25 years, as the Founder and CEO of Shift4, Jared has demonstrated exceptional leadership in building a trailblazing global financial technology company. He also co-founded and served as CEO of Draken International, a defence aerospace company, for over a decade, supporting the US Department of Defence and our allies," he added.
The space tourist said on Wednesday that he was honored to be nominated and would be grateful to serve.
"Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history," he said on X.
As Trump made a series of appointments, including Peter Navarro, his former White House adviser who served prison time this year for obstructing a Congressional investigation, as his senior counsellor for trade and manufacturing, Isaacman's nomination was released on Wednesday.
Isaacman, 41, who described himself as a "space geek" and made his money founding a payment processing company, is also a accomplished fighter pilot who owns a Florida company that trains Air Force pilots.
He flew into space last month with a mission to test SpaceX's new, customized spacewalking suits.
If confirmed by the US Senate, Isaacman will replace Bill Nelson, 82, a former Democratic Senator and astronaut, and would likely continue to work closely with Musk because NASA plans to use SpaceX's Starship rocket to return astronauts to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. The reusable rocket, the largest ever made, is currently undergoing test flights.
The space agency also uses SpaceX to deliver supplies and astronauts to and from the International Space Station. Simultaneously, NASA is broadening its orbit beyond the moon with unmanned spacecraft traveling to Jupiter's moon Europa and exploring the surface of Mars for signs of living organisms.
Although NASA is not one of the cabinet-level departments, its head is appointed by the President and has to be approved by the Senate. Besides its primary function as the agency responsible for space exploration on behalf of the US government, NASA also makes Earth studies through the use of satellite technology, including aeronautics research and testing of new aircraft.
He congratulated Isaacman on X, describing him as a man of "high ability and integrity".
Trump has now largely completed filling the top jobs in his administration. The nominees will go before the Senate for hearings starting in January.
Other appointments made by Trump on Wednesday included Daniel Driscoll, a military veteran who was a senior adviser to Vice President-elect JD Vance, as Army secretary and Adam Boehler, a lead negotiator on the Abraham Accords team, as special presidential envoy for hostage affairs.
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