Ken Gmerek

Ken Gmerek is an accomplished aerospace professional with extensive experience in mission operations and spacecraft engineering. Currently serving as the Mission Operations and Automation Manager at Varda Space Industries since May 2024, Gmerek leads all on-orbit operations from launch through landing. Previously, Gmerek held significant roles at SpaceX, including Principal Space Operations Engineer and Dragon Mission Director, contributing to the development and execution of Dragon 2 missions. Additional experience includes positions as an Electrical Vehicle Engineer at Space Systems Loral, Project Manager and Chief Engineer at M-Cubed, and an intern at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Gmerek holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Michigan, where a minor in Multidisciplinary Design in Space Systems Engineering was also obtained.