Kent-based rocket maker Blue Origin hired retired Gen. John Hyten, a former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to lead its charitable foundation, Club for the Future, and serve as strategic adviser to the company’s senior leadership.
“Blue Origin combines a clear purpose of preserving Earth through safe, reliable, and affordable access to space with an equally important mission of inspiring the next generation through its foundation, Club for the Future,” Hyten said in a news release. “That combination inspires me. My father worked on the Saturn V in Huntsville, AL, and ever since I dreamed about working on rockets and with the space community. I want the next generation to have similar dreams.”
In the new role, Hyten will encourage students to become scientists, engineers and explorers, and help guide the company "as it builds a road to space," the release said.
Hyten retired from the Air Force last year after four decades. He served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2019 to 2021, where he was the nation’s second highest-ranking military officer.
“We are deeply honored to have General Hyten apply his tremendous leadership skills and space expertise to Blue Origin and Club for the Future,” Blue Origin CEO Bob Smith said. “His knowledge of the space industry and his passion for inspiring the next generation make him a natural fit for these roles.”
