After having successfully raised a Series A funding in early 2022, and after winning the France 2030 program’s call for projects last May, the Bordeaux-based start-up is continuing its development by appointing a vice president with solid program management experience in the space transportation and armaments sectors. He will notably be in charge of managing the ambitious orbital micro-launchers programs leveraging HyPrSpace innovative space propulsion solution.
The initiator of the Ariane 6 program
Jean-Philippe Dufour, 47, will join HyPrSpace on September 1st 2022 as Vice President of programs. A graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique and ISAE-SUPAERO, this colonel in the French Armament Corps will bring to the Bordeaux-based start-up his solid experience in project and program management acquired at the CNES Launchers Directorate and the General Directorate of Armament (DGA).
After starting his career at the DGA’s Flight Test Centre as a UAV systems test engineer, then business manager and economic intelligence manager, Jean-Philippe Dufour was seconded to the General Secretariat of National Defense as advisor before becoming head of the DGA’s aeronautic industry office. Between 2009 and 2018, he held various project and program management positions, first at CNES, where he led the first Ariane 6 studies and the development of the preparatory program proposal, then at the DGA’s Operations Directorate, in the fields of missiles, drones and tactical communications.
International experience in disruptive technologies
He then moved to Norfolk in the United States in 2018 where he worked for NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) as Scientific Advisor and then Armament Advisor, a position he held until August 2021. During these three years, his main missions were focused on innovation and emerging and disruptive technologies, major weapon systems programs, new development approaches, relations with industry and academia and the implementation of a partnership with the NATO Science and Technology Organization (STO).
Back in France, he joined ISAE-SUPAERO as Vice President. In this position, he assists the President in the development and deployment of the Institute’s strategy and ensures its operational management. In particular, he coordinates the definition and implementation of the Institute’s approaches to innovation, sustainable development and New Space.
He will join HyPrSpace on 1 September 2022 as a partner vice president, in charge of steering the company’s programs, primarily the development of the Orbital Baguette One (OB-1) micro-launch vehicle.
“HyPrSpace will dramatically change the landscape of space transportation”
For the President of HyPrSpace, Alexandre Mangeot, "this is a new and extremely structuring step, but one that is logical given our ambitions. Jean-Philippe will help us to reach a new level and strengthen our credibility in the long term".
"More than a new chapter, it is a second volume of my career that I am opening by joining HyPrSpace – a volume that promises to be an absolutely exciting adventure! I fell in love at first sight with the passion and talent of the founders of HyPrSpace, but also with the company’s project, which I am convinced will change dramatically the landscape of space transportation. The French government has made no mistake about it, since the company’s OB-1 launcher project has won the call for mini and micro launchers in the framework of France 2030. I am particularly enthusiastic about the idea of leading this program – and others that are already in the pipeline," says Jean-Philippe Dufour.
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