Gregory brings a rare combination of credentials to the company, having served as a three-time Space Shuttle mission commander and head of NASA’s Safety and Mission Assurance office. His expertise is particularly relevant to Starfighters, which operates the world’s only commercial fleet of F-104 Starfighters—an aircraft Gregory personally piloted during his career as a U.S. Air Force test pilot. By aligning with a leader who has shaped NASA’s safety culture, Starfighters aims to bolster its position as it seeks to capture increasing government and defense demand for high-speed, responsive flight testing.

For the company, the appointment serves as a strategic marker in a competitive aerospace sector. As defense budgets prioritize hypersonic research and rapid payload deployment, Starfighters is positioning its STARLAUNCH platform to fill the capacity gap in atmospheric flight testing. While the advisory role is not a revenue-generating event, it provides the technical and operational pedigree necessary to navigate the rigorous requirements of national security contracts. The company’s ability to convert this high-level guidance into funded missions remains the critical metric for investors watching its growth alongside industry players like Karman Holdings and BlackSky.