Sierra Space names Dan Jablonsky CEO

WASHINGTON — Sierra Space announced that longtime defense executive Dan Jablonsky has been appointed chief executive officer, effective March 2.

Company founder Fatih Ozmen, who has been serving as interim chief executive officer, will remain chair of the board.

Jablonsky most recently led rocket propulsion and missile manufacturer Ursa Major Technologies as chief executive officer. He previously served as chief executive of Maxar Technologies and its predecessor DigitalGlobe, overseeing satellite manufacturing and Earth imaging businesses.

The appointment follows a period of leadership turnover at Sierra Space. Former Northrop Grumman executive Tom Vice was named chief executive after the company was spun out of Sierra Nevada Corporation in 2021 and retired in 2024.

Sierra Space, based in Louisville, Colorado, was formed as a commercial space spinoff of defense contractor Sierra Nevada Corporation. The company initially focused on civil and commercial space infrastructure, anchored by its Dream Chaser spaceplane, which is designed to transport cargo to and from the International Space Station under a NASA contract.

In recent years, Sierra Space has shifted toward the defense market, winning contracts to build military satellites and related systems. The company last year announced plans to build a 60,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Centennial, Colorado, to expand satellite production capacity.

Ozmen said Jablonsky’s experience would support that transition.

“Dan brings tremendous experience leading complex aerospace and defense organizations at scale,” Ozmen said in a statement Feb. 26. “As Sierra Space expands production, advances key programs across civil and defense business, and supports growing customer demand, this is an exciting time to bring in a CEO with a track record of operational execution.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently visited Sierra Space, highlighting the Pentagon’s growing engagement with commercial space manufacturers.