
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
After nearly 12 years leading the United Launch Alliance (ULA), its chief Tory Bruno is stepping down from the U.S. rocket launch provider to pursue "another opportunity," the company announced this week.
What's that new opportunity? We're not sure yet, but it's guaranteed to be "Something interesting," Bruno wrote on social media after the Dec. 22 announcement.
Bruno took the reigns as ULA president and CEO in August 2014, overseeing the company, a collaboration between Lockheed Martin and Boeing, as it launched its Atlas V rockets and retired its Delta rocket family. He oversaw the development of new booster, the Vulcan Centaur rocket, which ULA plans to use as a workhorse vehicle.
During Bruno's term, ULA fought to contend with launch competitor SpaceX, which successfully landed a Falcon 9 booster for the first time in 2015 to lower costs through reusability. SpaceX now regularly launches and lands Falcon 9 rockets and has flown over 160 times this year. ULA eventually hopes to recover and reuse only part of the Vulcan rocket, its BE-4 first stage engines built by Blue Origin.
"It has been a great privilege to lead ULA through its transformation and to bring Vulcan into service. My work here is now complete and I will be cheering ULA on," Bruno wrote on X.
"Finished the mission I came to do," he added. "Great people. Great rocket. New things coming."
In a statement, Robert Lightfoot and Kay Sears, the ULA board chairs for Lockheed Martin and Boeing, respectively, thanked Bruno for over a decade of service.
"We are grateful for Tory’s service to ULA and the country, and we thank him for his leadership," Lightfoot and Sears wrote in the statement.
ULA's board has appointed Boeing veteran John Elbon as interim CEO as the search for a new leader begins.
"We have the greatest confidence in John to continue strengthening ULA’s momentum while the board proceeds with finding the next leader of ULA," Lihtfoot and Sears wrote.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
Fundamental Home Machines for Improved Solace in Summer - 2
Steinmeier honours Italian 'guest workers' who rebuilt German economy - 3
Treason trial of South Sudan's suspended VP is further eroding peace deal, UN experts say - 4
'Stranger Things' character guide: The nerds, the newcomers and the rest of the Season 5 cast - 5
Former 'Bachelorette' welcomes 1st baby via emergency c-section
Farmers call for French blockades over cow disease cull
UN torture cm'tee report flags Israel for allegedly mistreating journalists, detainees, ex-MAG
5 Eating routine Well disposed Snacks to Keep You Fulfilled
Malaysia To Revive Search for Missing Flight MH370
Best Exciting ride: Which One Rushes You the Most?
Damaged Shenzhou-20 spacecraft to return to Earth uncrewed for inspection
Barry Manilow reveals lung cancer diagnosis and plans to undergo surgery: 'It's pure luck' it was 'found so early'
Euclid space telescope sees gorgeous cosmic cloud | Space photo of the day for Nov. 18, 2025
New movies to watch this weekend: See 'We Bury the Dead' in theaters, rent 'Wicked: For Good,' stream 'The Unbreakable Boy' on Starz











