Ursa Major, a privately held rocket propulsion company, saw a pivotal week marked by leadership changes and heightened defense-market engagement. The company promoted Christopher (Chris) Spagnoletti to chief executive officer, elevating an internal leader credited with advancing hypersonic flight systems, the Draper liquid engine, and modernized solid rocket motor and in-space propulsion lines.
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LinkedIn updates emphasized that Ursa Major is now “flying, building, and delivering at speed and at scale,” signaling a transition from core technology development to higher-volume production. The board, which includes former Northrop Grumman CEO Dr. Ron Sugar, backed the move to maintain strategic continuity as the firm scales manufacturing across facilities in Colorado and Ohio.
The company also highlighted more than 100 liquid engines built and hot-fired and over 100,000 seconds of test time, pointing to growing technical maturity and hypersonic flight heritage. Ursa Major described its solid rocket motor capability as “surge-ready” and framed its second decade around industrialization, with a focus on reliable, affordable propulsion for defense and national security missions.
In parallel, Ursa Major announced its role as an exhibiting sponsor at the upcoming Air & Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium, where it will appear at Booth #935. The event convenes leaders from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, and industry, and the company aims to align its offerings with discussions on global readiness, next-generation capabilities, and modern joint warfare.
These combined developments underscore a strategy centered on defense-focused growth, scaled production, and deeper integration into the U.S. defense and space procurement ecosystem. While no specific new contracts were disclosed, the leadership transition, test milestones, and high-profile symposium presence collectively reinforce Ursa Major’s positioning as an emerging propulsion supplier with expanding relevance to national security programs.