Chief Executive Officer, Blue Origin
B.S. ASE 1986, Texas A&M University
Sc.M. Engr. (Applied Math) 1987, Brown University
Ph.D. ASE 1991, The University of Texas at Austin
S.M. 1998, MIT Sloan School of Management
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.
Smith earned 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 at Austin in aerospace engineering and a business degree from MIT’s Sloan School of Management.
Before joining Blue Origin, Smith worked at Honeywell Aerospace as Vice President of Advanced Technology, 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, Smith 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.
Smith also worked at The Aerospace Corporation where he served as a guidance, navigation and control analyst and a program manager for a number of Department of Defense and national security programs. He eventually became the leader for all of Aerospace’s NASA business and the site manager for Aerospace’s Houston operations.
