The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) welcomed yesterday Senate confirmation of Jared Isaacman to serve as NASA administrator.

A successful businessman, aviator and philanthropist, he is perhaps best known for his role as commander of two private spaceflights: Inspiration4, the world’s first all-civilian mission to orbit the Earth, and last year’s Polaris Dawn mission that featured the first commercial spacewalk.

He is the founder of online payment solutions provider Shift4 and Draken International, a defense company that serves the US military. He is also an accomplished pilot, leading the civilian Black Diamond Jet Team from 2011-2014, and today’s Polaris Program “Ghost Squadron” aerial demonstration team, which also provides training opportunities for civilian astronauts.

NBAA welcomed his initial nomination to lead NASA earlier this year and reiterated that support when he was renominated for the role in November (see AVIONEWS 1 and 2). He also received widespread backing from more than two dozen former astronauts, a number of governors and other prominent individuals and aerospace organizations.

In Senate testimony, Isaacman has expressed strong support for increased commercial partnerships in emerging technologies such as advanced air mobility. He is expected to continue NASA’s collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration and other agencies and entities on matters of aviation safety, sustainability and technology.

In 2023, NBAA presented him with its Meritorious Service to Aviation Award for his groundbreaking contributions to aviation and aerospace. The award celebrated his extraordinary contributions to aviation, as well as his work raising hundreds of millions in contributions to charitable organizations, including a 2009 round-the-world flight that raised funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.