Press Releases
Captain Larry R. Smith, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
LaunchPoint Electric Propulsion Solutions, Inc. Appoints Captain Larry R. Smith, U.S. Navy (Ret.) to Advisory Board as Senior Defense Advisor
GOLETA, California – October 7, 2024 – LaunchPoint Electric Propulsion Solutions, Inc. is excited to announce the appointment of Captain Larry R. Smith, U.S. Navy (Retired), as Senior Defense Advisor and Business Development Consultant. Captain Larry Smith completed a distinguished 24-year military career, retiring in October 2024. He brings deep expertise in defense procurement, program management, and strategic leadership from his extensive experience in the Department of Defense.
Captain Smith’s final role was the Director of the F-35 Propulsion Systems Program Office, a Tier-1, $15B DoD acquisition program. In this role he led and managed the propulsion systems’ cost, schedule, and performance for all three F-35 variants throughout the lifecycle for three US Services, seven Partner Nations, and seven Foreign Military Sales customers. Before this, he was the Lead Systems Engineer for the Navy’s F-35C, overseeing a team of 300 engineers and achieving global airworthiness certification.
Captain Smith’s expertise will now be leveraged in a strategic business development role at LaunchPoint. His responsibilities will include working with the commercial team to develop new opportunities within government programs, key program management offices, and Tier-1 suppliers. He will help LaunchPoint navigate the defense sector’s complex regulatory landscape and identify opportunities to enhance competitive positioning.
“We’re honored to have Captain Larry Smith join LaunchPoint in such a pivotal role,” said Robert Reali, CEO of LaunchPoint Electric Propulsion Solutions. “His unmatched experience in managing large-scale DoD programs, combined with his understanding of advanced defense technologies, will be instrumental in expanding our footprint within the defense market.”
Captain Smith holds a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. He was awarded the prestigious 2023 Department of the Navy Program Manager of the Year in recognition of his outstanding leadership in the F-35 program.
Captain Larry R. Smith, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
LaunchPoint Electric Propulsion Solutions, Inc. Appoints Captain Larry R. Smith, U.S. Navy (Ret.) to Advisory Board as Senior Defense Advisor
GOLETA, California – October 7, 2024 – LaunchPoint Electric Propulsion Solutions, Inc. is excited to announce the appointment of Captain Larry R. Smith, U.S. Navy (Retired), as Senior Defense Advisor and Business Development Consultant. Captain Larry Smith completed a distinguished 24-year military career, retiring in October 2024. He brings deep expertise in defense procurement, program management, and strategic leadership from his extensive experience in the Department of Defense.