- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Starfighters Space Announces Board and Executive Changes
Company founder Rick Svetkoff resigns as President, Chairman, and Director
Feb. 23, 2026 at 4:21pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Starfighters Space, Inc. has announced that company founder Rick Svetkoff, age 72, has resigned from his roles as President, Chairman, and Director. Brenda Svetkoff has also resigned as Company Secretary. The board has appointed Tim Franta as a new Director, who has served as the company's Vice President of Development since October 2022.
Why it matters
These leadership changes at Starfighters Space, a prominent private space company, signal a shift in the company's direction and strategy as it continues to develop its STARLAUNCH air-launch system for delivering payloads to space.
The details
Rick Svetkoff founded Starfighters in 1996 after a career in the U.S. Navy and as a commercial airline pilot. Tim Franta, the new Director, has extensive experience in the space industry, including roles at Energy Florida and the Florida Space Authority, where he helped draft space transportation legislation and support funding for space infrastructure.
- Rick Svetkoff resigned from his roles on February 23, 2026.
- Brenda Svetkoff resigned as Company Secretary on February 23, 2026.
- Tim Franta was appointed as a Director on February 23, 2026.
The players
Rick Svetkoff
The 72-year-old founder of Starfighters Space, Inc. who has resigned as President, Chairman, and Director.
Brenda Svetkoff
The former Company Secretary of Starfighters Space, Inc. who has also resigned from her role.
Tim Franta
The new Director of Starfighters Space, Inc. who has served as the company's Vice President of Development since October 2022. He has extensive experience in the space industry, including roles at Energy Florida and the Florida Space Authority.
What’s next
The company's board will likely work to fill the leadership roles vacated by Rick Svetkoff and Brenda Svetkoff in the coming weeks and months.
The takeaway
These changes at the top of Starfighters Space signal a shift in the company's direction as it continues to develop its STARLAUNCH air-launch system for delivering payloads to space, with the appointment of industry veteran Tim Franta as a new Director.
