Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has appointed Alexander Dahm as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. The Supervisory Board announced the decision, succeeding Prof. Dr. Indulis Kalnins, who will remain associated with the company in an advisory capacity. Dahm will be responsible for guiding RFA’s continued development and its path to the maiden flight of the RFA ONE launch vehicle.
Dahm brings over 30 years of leadership experience in the aerospace and defense industry. A graduate in aerospace engineering, he most recently served as Chief Operating Officer of HENSOLDT Sensors and was a member of the Group Executive Committee, where he oversaw the entire operational value chain, including production, procurement, quality, and logistics. His previous roles include senior positions at Airbus Defence & Space, Airbus Operations, and earlier at Astrium and DASA. He also contributed to the Ariane 5 program.
“I am delighted to welcome Alexander Dahm on board as the new CEO of Rocket Factory Augsburg,” said Jean-Jacques Dordain, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of RFA. “In him, we gain not only a proven space and industry expert, but also a leader who successfully brings complex programs to execution and can guide organizations through decisive growth phases. His experience from the Ariane 5 program, from senior roles at Airbus, and most recently at HENSOLDT will be of great value for the further development of RFA.”
Dahm’s track record includes building and scaling complex industrial and defense programs, developing industrial production capacities, and leading large international organizations with several thousand employees. He also has extensive expertise in industrialization, ramp-up management, operational excellence, and space systems.
“I am very much looking forward to working with the RFA team,” Dahm said. “I am impressed by the grit, innovative strength, and passion with which a new generation of European launch vehicles is being developed here. Together, we will reach the next important milestones on the way to the maiden flight of RFA ONE and actively shape the company’s future.”
The appointment signals RFA’s intent to strengthen its industrial and operational capabilities as it moves toward commercial launch services. The RFA ONE launch service combines three key competitive advantages: a customer-focused service with precise in-orbit delivery and high mission flexibility through its third stage “Redshift”; a highly competitive price made possible by the superior staged-combustion engine “Helix”; and low-cost stainless-steel structures and usage of industrial components. Founded in 2018, RFA aims to enable data-generating business models in space to better monitor, protect, and connect Earth, offering flexible, customer-centric, and European launch services to low Earth orbit.
Dahm’s appointment is a strategic move to bolster RFA’s ability to execute complex programs and scale operations. As the European launch market grows increasingly competitive, RFA’s success in reaching its maiden flight and establishing reliable launch services could strengthen Europe’s independent access to space. The full release is available via www.newmediawire.com.
