Aerospace Vet Joins Aerojet Rocketdyne

The former president of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has been appointed senior vice president of the space business unit of Aerojet Rocketdyne. In his new position, Jim Maser will work out of Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Chatsworth campus and oversee all NASA programs, defense and commercial launch systems, advanced space and launch strategy programs, and in-space propulsion system programs supported by sites throughout the country. Maser was president of Rocketdyne for six years when it was owned by United Technologies Corp. The Stamford, Conn.-based aerospace and defense company sold the division to GenCorp in 2012, which later changed its name to Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc. Chief Executive Eileen Drake said that Maser’s familiarity with Rocketdyne’s products, customers and workforce make him a perfect match for the company and its space business. “Jim’s incredible breadth of expertise in the industry includes leadership for both commercial and traditional space companies, providing unique perspective as we continue driving innovation and proven reliability into our expanding space portfolio,” Drake said in a statement. Maser also served as president of consulting firm James G. Advisors LLC, president and general manager of Sea Launch, and president and chief operating officer at Space Exploration Technologies Corp., or SpaceX.