CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – United Launch Alliance is looking for a new chief.
Tory Bruno, who led ULA since 2014 and oversaw the development of the Vulcan rocket, resigned Monday to “pursue another opportunity,” according to a joint statement by the ULA board chairs for Lockheed Martin and Boeing.
“We are grateful for Tory’s service to ULA and the country, and we thank him for his leadership,” the statement read.
ULA is a joint venture owned by Boeing and Lockheed Martin to design and launch rockets, including the Atlas V rocket and the Delta rocket line.
[WATCH: ULA Vulcan Centaur rocket blasts off on inaugural launch]
Bruno was hired as SpaceX was ramping up its launch schedule with partially reusable rockets. Tensions between the U.S. and Russia meant ULA had to wind down the Atlas program, which used Russian-made engines, or risk losing its military contracts.
ULA eventually partnered with Blue Origin, which built the U.S.-made engine that became the core of the Vulcan Centaur rocket, which launched successfully in 2024.
ULA is also the launch provider for Project Kuiper, Blue Origin’s satellite internet system.
ULA launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Bruno released statements on X.com, thanking Lockheed Martin Space and Boeing Space for his time with the company.
Thank you. It has been a great privilege to lead ULA through its transformation and to bring Vulcan into service. My work here is now complete and I will be cheering ULA on. https://t.co/zlmPyEfpxR
— Tory Bruno (@torybruno) December 22, 2025
ULA says John Elbon is serving as interim CEO.
“We have the greatest confidence in John to continue strengthening ULA’s momentum while the board proceeds with finding the next leader of ULA. Together with Mark Peller, the new COO, John’s career in aerospace and his launch expertise is an asset for ULA and its customers, especially for achieving key upcoming Vulcan milestones,” ULA’s statement read.