In a surprising move, Tory Bruno has stepped down as CEO of United Launch Alliance after leading the company for nearly a decade. His departure comes at a time of intense industry rivalry and ongoing efforts to modernize ULA’s launch capabilities.

Bruno’s leadership saw ULA struggle to maintain its market share against SpaceX, which rapidly gained dominance through innovative, cost-effective reusable rockets. Despite ULA’s efforts, including the launch of the new Vulcan rocket, the company faced difficulties increasing launch frequency and securing major government contracts.

With a 30-year background in engineering and management at Lockheed Martin, Bruno took the helm of ULA in August 2014 amid rising competition from SpaceX’s Falcon 9. His tenure was marked by efforts to modernize the fleet and regain a competitive edge, but recent setbacks signal the need for new strategic direction.

Industry experts note that leadership changes often reflect a company’s response to market shifts. As ULA navigates its future, the focus will be on advancing rocket technology and securing vital contracts in an increasingly competitive landscape.

David Nield

Dave is a freelance tech journalist with over 20 years covering gadgets, apps, and the web. From Stockport, England, he covers news, features, and reviews for TechRadar, focusing on phones, tablets, and wearables. He ensures top weekend breaking news and has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci, and others. He edited PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook for years. Read me on x.com or linkedin.