Jeff Thornburg
Mentor/Associate - Space Stream at Creative Destruction Lab
Jeff Thornburg is CEO and co-founder of Portal Space Systems and serves as a mentor at Creative Destruction Lab and advisor at Stratolaunch. He previously held engineering leadership roles at Aerojet, Agility Robotics, Air Force Research Laboratory, Amazon Kuiper, and Commonwealth Fusion Systems, and has expertise in pioneering technology for high-speed mobility across trans-orbital regimes.
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Creative Destruction Lab Mentor/Associate - Space Stream 2021–present · current
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Portal Space Systems CEO & Co-founder 2021–present · current
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Stratolaunch Advisor 2021–present, Vice President of Propulsion Engineering 2017–2019 · current
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Commonwealth Fusion Systems Chief of Engineering 2023–2024, Chief Engineer, ARC 2022–2024 · past
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Sintavia Advisor 2022 · past
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Agility Robotics Sr. VP of Engineering 2021–2022 · past
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Ursa Major Advisor 2021–2023 · past
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Amazon Director - Hardware, Mechanical Engineering - Kuiper 2020–2021 · past
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Interstellar Technologies CEO / CTO 2019–2020, Founder 2015–2022 · past
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SpaceX VP / Sr. Director of Propulsion Engineering 2014–2015, Principal Propulsion Engineer for Raptor Engine Development 2011–2015 · past
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NASA Lead Engineer/Project Manager 2009–2011 · past
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Aerojet Engineering Director - Liquid Propulsion 2006–2009 · past
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Exquadrum Director of Technology 2004–2005 · past
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Air Force Research Laboratory Program Manager/Chief Engineer 2000–2004 · past
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US Air Force Active Duty Officer 1994–2003 · past
Education
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U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology M.S., Aeronautical Engineering · 1998–2000
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Missouri University of Science and Technology B.S., Aerospace Engineering · 1991–1995
Organizations
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Creative Destruction Lab Mentor/Associate - Space Stream 2021–present · current
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Portal Space Systems CEO & Co-founder 2021–present · current
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Stratolaunch Advisor 2021–present, Vice President of Propulsion Engineering 2017–2019 · current
Education
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U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology M.S., Aeronautical Engineering · 1998–2000
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Missouri University of Science and Technology B.S., Aerospace Engineering · 1991–1995
