Tory Bruno has resigned as CEO of United Launch Alliance after nearly 12 years; ULA named COO John Elbon as interim CEO. The Decatur, Alabama, plant is switching to Vulcan-only production; the final Atlas V rockets built there remain awaiting launch. ULA plans to grow annual output from about 10–12 Atlas V rockets to a target of 20–25 Vulcan rockets as the workforce expands.
Tory Bruno Steps Down as ULA CEO; John Elbon Named Interim Leader as Decatur Plant Shifts to Vulcan Rockets
The president and chief executive officer of United Launch Alliance (ULA), Tory Bruno, has resigned after nearly 12 years leading the company that operates the world’s largest rocket manufacturing plant in Decatur, Alabama.
Lockheed Martin Space — a 50/50 partner with Boeing in ULA — posted on X to thank Bruno for his long tenure. The message announced that ULA’s chief operating officer, John Elbon, will serve as interim CEO while the company advances key milestones for the new Vulcan rocket.
Production Shift At Decatur Facility
ULA is transitioning the Decatur plant to Vulcan-only production. The 2.2 million-square-foot facility, located near the Tennessee River and opened in 1999, formerly assembled Atlas V and Delta IV rockets. The final Atlas V vehicles built in Decatur remain awaiting launch, Bruno told AL.com during a visit to the plant last fall.
Bruno’s Background And Farewell
"Thank you for the opportunity to lead this amazing team. They have put ULA in a great position to do important things for our customers and Nation," Bruno posted on X.
Before joining ULA as CEO, Bruno served as president of Lockheed Martin Strategic and Missile Defense Systems and spent roughly three decades working on space and missile programs.
Vulcan Rocket And Expansion Goals
The Vulcan rocket being built in Decatur is designed to travel farther into space, fly faster and carry heavier payloads — capabilities intended to meet the needs of major customers, including the U.S. government. Both ULA and competitor SpaceX hold national security launch contracts.
Over the past five years the plant’s workforce has grown from about 600 employees to more than 1,000. Bruno said the Atlas V production rate at the Decatur facility was roughly 10–12 rockets per year; ULA’s current target is to increase output to about 20–25 Vulcan rockets annually. Some of those vehicles could be used for crewed missions in the future.
Looking Ahead
With an interim CEO in place, ULA will focus on ramping Vulcan production and meeting national security and commercial launch demand. The company says increasing launch cadence is critical to both customer commitments and national needs.
