{"id":"ef048681-4ea1-4cc3-8eae-20c4b9fd6af9","slug":"tom-mueller","name":"Tom Mueller","bioBrief":"Founder and CEO of Impulse Space (founded 2021). SpaceX employee #1 (hired 2002 by Elon Musk from TRW). VP of Propulsion Engineering and later CTO of Propulsion at SpaceX (2002-2020). Lead developer of Merlin 1A/1C/1D/MVac, Kestrel, Draco, SuperDraco engines. BS ME University of Idaho (1985), MS ME Loyola Marymount (1992). Holds several US propulsion patents.","nationality":"American","verificationPosture":"verified","aliases":["Thomas John Mueller","Thomas Mueller"],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.impulsespace.com/about","title":"Our Mission - Impulse Space","sourceName":"Impulse Space (primary)"}],"reviewStatus":"reviewed","createdAt":"2026-06-07T13:19:34.328Z","updatedAt":"2026-06-07T13:19:34.328Z","educations":[],"companyRoles":[{"id":"b456ecc1-ae2f-4edf-96d9-694e49e1e185","personId":"ef048681-4ea1-4cc3-8eae-20c4b9fd6af9","companyId":"90becab7-664d-4140-8b1e-2703d1be7e91","role":"ceo","roleTitle":"Founder and CEO","startDate":null,"endDate":null,"currentRole":true,"roleBasis":"verified_secondary","createdAt":"2026-06-07T13:27:50.463Z","company":{"slug":"impulse-space","name":"Impulse Space"}}],"boardRoles":[],"investorRoles":[],"foundings":[{"id":"3d78dd2a-0284-421c-abcf-4b1c7425f10c","personId":"ef048681-4ea1-4cc3-8eae-20c4b9fd6af9","companyId":"90becab7-664d-4140-8b1e-2703d1be7e91","foundingDate":"2026-06-01T12:00:00.000Z","cofounderStatus":null,"stillAtCompany":true,"createdAt":"2026-06-07T13:19:35.101Z","company":{"slug":"impulse-space","name":"Impulse Space"}}]}