Kenneth Smith

Kenneth Smith Jr. currently serves as the Deputy Launch Director at Blue Origin, where he provides strategic leadership for New Glenn launch operations and drives mission assurance through high-stakes anomaly resolution. He previously held the role of Lunar Integration and Test Lead for the Human-Class Delivery Lander, managing system-level integration and testing for the MK2 Lunar Lander. Prior to joining Blue Origin, Kenneth played a critical role at SpaceX, where he devised innovative testing solutions for the Crew Dragon vehicle that helped enable the first human flight from American soil since the Space Shuttle. His professional background also includes instrumental work at NASA, where he led risk management for the Moon to Mars program and conducted loads analysis for the Gateway Space Station.

Kenneth’s journey is one of resilience, evolving from a college dropout to being on his way to earning a Ph.D. focused on modular laboratory platforms for celestial body science. After returning to his studies, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Systems Engineering from the University of Akron and a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and an Eisenhower Fellow, Kenneth is also a dedicated educator. Known to students and audiences worldwide as “Ksmooth the Engineering Dude,” he gives talks across the globe to simplify complex aerospace concepts and inspire the next generation of explorers.