Sierra Nevada's commercial space arm hires new COO
Jeff Babione joins the SIerra Space business to help lead its technology development efforts. Courtesy of Sierra Nevada
By
Ross Wilkers
The Sierra Space business launched last year and subsequently fetched $1.4 billion in Series A funding.
Sierra Nevada Corp.’s commercial space subsidiary has hired a new chief operating officer in Jeff Babione, most recently the head of Lockheed Martin’s famed Skunk Works advanced development division.
Babione joins the Sierra Space business to oversee the development of its space transportation systems that include the flagship Dream Chaser spaceplane and others, the company said Wednesday.
SNC first unveiled the subsidiary in April 2021 and completed a $1.4 billion Series A fundraising round nearly seven months later that was led by General Atlantic, Coatue and Moore Strategic Ventures. Other participants included the noted aerospace-and-defense investment firm AE Industrial Partners and BlackRock Private Equity Partners.
A nearly three-decade Lockheed veteran, Babione most recently led Skunk Works in the four years leading up to his retirement from the company in March.
His career at Lockheed also included separate stints as leader of the F-35, F-22 and F-16 fighter jet programs.