Our Team
Our unmatched experience and innovation is accelerating development time and slashing cost-to-launch in a way no other company ever has. Lesath’s leadership includes former astronauts, top aerospace minds, and award-winning creative— delivering on a value proposition that strikes beyond original IP: a superhuman intellectual collective who are redesigning the speed to successful spaceflight. Lesath’s edge isn’t hardware: It’s human.
LEADERSHIP
Thomas Pawlak III
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Thomas is Chief Executive Officer and Founder of LESATH with over 20 years of business and leadership experience spanning healthcare and aerospace sectors. Leading our corporate vision and strategic direction, he brings extensive entrepreneurial expertise from building companies and advising emerging technology ventures.
Thomas serves on the advisory board of Vicillian, a space technology investment group, and as a board member of GroundWorks Buffalo, a non-profit organization focused on transforming urban spaces into thriving, green environments through community partnerships. Mr. Pawlak holds a B.S./MBA from Medaille College and studied business at the University at Buffalo.
Cody LaRochelle
Chief Operating Officer
Cody is an engineering and operations leader with 10+ years of experience delivering multimillion-dollar automation, aerospace, and SaaS projects across highly regulated industries. As Chief Operations Officer at LESATH, he brings extensive project management expertise and technical leadership from complex engineering environments.
Cody specialized in large-scale automation and aerospace project delivery, building his career through progressive leadership roles in operations and engineering management. Mr. LaRochelle holds an MS in Space Systems, a BA in Mechanical Engineering, and is a certified PMP.
Alexander Taleb
Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer
Alexander is Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of LESATH with over a decade of experience in commercial launch vehicle design. As a technical leader, he brings expertise from roles at Firefly Space Systems, Generation Orbit, Syncroness, and Blue Origin’s propulsion team, where he designed engine components, entire stages, and led contract-winning teams.
Alexander specialized in propulsion systems engineering and spacecraft design across multiple commercial space companies. Mr. Taleb has an unmatched passion for rockets and spaceflight, with deep knowledge spanning early suborbital research rockets to today’s reusable heavy lifters. He is dedicated to building an industry-leading launch vehicle and opening space to a new generation of explorers and adventurers, and is a graduate of Georgia Tech in Aerospace Engineering.
JASON D. SALLEY
Chief Growth Officer
Jason brings more than 25 years of experience in the aerospace-defense and technology industries to his role as LESATH’s Chief Growth Officer. Driving business development and strategic partnerships, he brings extensive experience supporting critical programs in radio and space communications, satellite and missile technologies, radar and tracking systems, and ground station support for the US Department of Defense, NASA, the Intelligence Community, and all of the US Armed Services.
Jason built his career developing and managing complex technology programs across government and commercial sectors, specializing in mission-critical systems and client relationship management for the nation’s most demanding aerospace and defense applications.
MICHAEL J. LISTNER
General Counsel & Special Advisor
Michael is a recognized subject matter expert in outer space law and policy with 22 years of legal and corporate experience. As General Counsel and Senior Advisor at LESATH, he brings complex litigation expertise and specialized knowledge from consulting with both non-governmental and governmental entities on space commerce and regulation.
Michael built his career specializing in the intersection of law, policy, and emerging space technologies. Mr. Listner has authored over 100 articles on outer space law and policy, establishing himself as a leading voice in the field. He combines practical legal experience with deep regulatory expertise to guide companies through the evolving landscape of commercial space operations.
STEVEN ANDREWS
Chief Marketing Officer
Steven is a six-time Telly Award winner and a veteran of the US Presidential campaigns of Elizabeth Warren (‘20) and Hillary Clinton (‘16). Spearheading our creative and communications leadership at LESATH as CMO, he brings more than 15 years’ experience building narrative and demand for frontier companies, politicians, grassroots movements —even a Super Bowl campaign.
Prior to LESATH, he led branded partnerships with acclaimed motorsports teams, produced audio stories for news studios, and managed social media for the Sunrise Movement and The Trevor Project. Mr. Andrews began his career as a classically trained musician, screenwriter and actor, and is a member of SAG-AFTRA and WGA West, and an alumnus of the Cleveland Institute of Music and MIT.
NICHOLAS SALAZAR
Chief Financial Officer
Nick is an accomplished financial executive with over a decade of experience in financial planning & analysis, financial modeling, and Deltek Costpoint implementation. As Chief Financial Advisor, he brings a proven ability to drive efficiency, growth, and compliance across financial operations, positioning organizations for long-term success.
Throughout his career, Nick has advised leadership teams on capital strategy, operational optimization, and financial transformation. He has successfully guided businesses through both initial and secondary fundraising rounds, leveraging debt and equity instruments to secure the capital needed for growth and expansion. Known for translating complex financial data into actionable insights, Nick empowers executives and stakeholders to make confident, data-driven decisions.
Nick holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance from Florida State University. With a reputation as a trusted advisor and strategic partner, he continues to deliver financial leadership that drives both operational excellence and sustainable value creation.
R. STEVE MCKAMEY, P.E.
Chief Engineer
Steve is a Professional Engineer with more than 40 years of experience in aerospace and defense systems engineering. As LESATH’s Chief Engineer, he brings extensive leadership from critical programs including Architecture definition for Constellation and SLS, Risk Management for Firefly Alpha and New Glenn Stage1, and Lead Systems Engineering for the J5-Phoenix Hypersonic Test Facility at USAF Arnold Engineering Development Complex. Prior to LESATH, Steve served as Chief Engineer for the Artemis Universal Stage Adapter, leading complex technical programs across government and commercial aerospace sectors.
Mr. McKamey built his career through progressive engineering leadership roles, specializing in launch systems, spacecraft architecture, and advanced propulsion technologies. He holds Professional Engineering certification and maintains deep expertise in systems integration for next-generation space transportation.
JOHN DILLON
Senior Operations Executive
John is a retired US Army Colonel and results-driven executive with decades of experience leading operations and driving business development for complex organizations. As Senior Operations Executive at LESATH, he brings extensive leadership from his role as Military Intelligence Brigade Commander, US Special Operations Forces assignments, and service on the Army Staff.
Prior to LESATH, John specialized in revenue growth, new business development, and client relationship management across defense and intelligence sectors. Colonel Dillon began his career in military intelligence, progressing through strategic leadership roles supporting critical national security operations. He holds an MBA from Trident University, a BA from Radford University, and is a graduate of the US Army War College (Senior Service College Fellow at the Central Intelligence Agency). He maintains PMP certification and an active TS/SCI security clearance with Full Scope Polygraph.
ADVISORY BOARD
Col. Michael Good
NASA Astronaut & Mission Specialist
LT. Gen. Brian T. Kelly
United States Airforce (Ret.)
CDR. Greg Knutson
United States Navy (Ret.)
Michael J. Listner, ATTY
Advisory Board Chair
DR. Steven harvey PH.D.
Non-Profit Leader
Rafael Spears
Space Economy Strategist
DR. NOAH RHYS, Ph.D.
EVP, Propulsion