Donald Trump announced Jared Isaacmana well-known entrepreneur and astronaut, as his candidate for the position of NASA boss. The president-elect praised Isaacman for his leadership in the private sector and his passion for it Space exploration. Trump mentioned Isaacman’s accomplishments in his statement, including his work as founder and CEO of Shift4 paymentsalong with his extensive experience in both aerospace and defense.
“I am pleased to appoint Jared Isaacman, an experienced business leader, philanthropist, pilot and astronaut, as Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA),” Trump said in his post. “Jared will advance NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in space science, technology and exploration.”

“Over the past 25 years, Jared has demonstrated exceptional leadership as founder and CEO of Shift4, building a groundbreaking global financial technology company. He also served as co-founder and CEO of Draken International, a defense and space company, for over a decade to support the U.S. Department of Defense and our allies,” the post continued.

Trump noted that Isaacman’s “exceptional leadership” was instrumental in turning Shift4 Payments into a major global financial technology company. He described Isaacman as a visionary capable of leading NASA into a new era of space exploration.
Isaacman’s nomination comes as Trump prepares to return to office on January 20, 2025.

Who is Jared Isaacman?

Founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments: Isaacman founded the payment processing company at 16, which today processes payments for major customers such as Hilton and KFC.
Billionaire entrepreneur: With an estimated net worth of $1.9 billion, according to Forbes. Isaacman’s company processes over $260 billion annually.
Aerospace Experience: Isaacman founded Draken International, which provides military jet training to the U.S. Air Force, and holds the world record for the fastest flight around the world in a light aircraft.
Space explorers: He was the first non-professional astronaut to walk in space during the Polaris Dawn mission in 2023 and previously funded the Inspiration4 mission, the first all-civilian spaceflight.