During three decades in the strategic missile and space-launch business, United Launch Alliance President & CEO Tory Bruno has never lost a rocket. That may make him unique in the annals of the space business, but government and commercial customers are more interested in what he’s done for them lately. With SpaceX and other new entrants crowding into the space sector, Bruno has embarked on a rapid transformation of his enterprise that has already reduced supply chain costs 36% and cut cycle times in half. The goal is to be not just the most reliable launch provider, but also price-competitive in a business where cost is king in deciding outcomes. The next-generation Vulcan launch vehicle that ULA is developing will orbit payloads at significantly lower cost to customers than ULA’s current Atlas and Delta families, but that is only the most visible manifestation of a multi-faceted attack on costs that is transforming the ULA culture. I have written a commentary for Forbes here.
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