Image: United Launch Alliance
Tory Bruno isn’t leaving the rocket business behind — he’s just switching launch pads.
Days after unexpectedly stepping down as President and CEO of United Launch Alliance (ULA), Bruno has officially landed at Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. The move was confirmed by Blue Origin itself, which announced on X that Bruno is joining the company as President of National Security, reporting directly to CEO Dave Limp.
The announcement comes less than a week after ULA revealed that Bruno had resigned after nearly 12 years at the helm to “pursue another opportunity.” At the time, the company — a Boeing–Lockheed Martin joint venture — named John Elbon as interim CEO as it began searching for a permanent replacement. Now, Bruno’s “other opportunity” is out in the open.
Bruno’s jump is notable not just for its timing, but for what it represents. He’s effectively moving from one SpaceX rival to another. Under Bruno’s leadership, ULA positioned itself as a reliable launch provider for U.S. national security missions, even as SpaceX steadily ate into its market share with cheaper, reusable rockets. ULA’s long-awaited Vulcan rocket is still working through key milestones, while SpaceX’s Falcon 9 has become routine.
At Blue Origin, Bruno will be tasked with overseeing national security efforts as the company tries to close that gap. Bezos’ space company has ambitious goals, but it’s still playing catch-up. While SpaceX has successfully landed hundreds of boosters, Blue Origin only achieved its first successful New Glenn booster landing last month — a milestone, but also a reminder of how far behind it remains.
Still, Bruno brings deep experience navigating government contracts, military launches, and high-stakes aerospace programs. That expertise could prove invaluable as Blue Origin pushes harder into orbital launches, defense work, and direct competition with SpaceX in commercial spaceflight and cargo delivery.
The timing also underscores a broader shake-up in the U.S. launch industry. Leadership is shifting, alliances are evolving, and the race to challenge SpaceX’s dominance is far from over. For Bruno, this isn’t an exit — it’s a calculated leap to another contender in an increasingly crowded launch market.
