Curtis Johnson
About Curtis Johnson
Curtis Johnson is the New Glenn Chief Engineer for the Reusable Booster Stage at Blue Origin, with extensive experience in rocket engine development and engineering leadership.
Current Role at Blue Origin
Curtis Johnson currently holds the role of New Glenn Chief Engineer for the Reusable Booster Stage at Blue Origin. He has been in this position since 2021, based in Kent, Washington, United States. In this capacity, Curtis is responsible for overseeing the engineering efforts related to the reusable booster stage of the New Glenn rocket, ensuring the successful execution of its missions.
Prior Positions at Blue Origin
Before his current role, Curtis Johnson worked at Blue Origin in multiple senior engineering positions. Notably, he served as Engines Lead Chief Engineer from 2019 to 2021 and as New Glenn Lead Chief Engineer in 2018-2019. Earlier, he was the Engine Element Lead for the New Glenn Orbital Vehicle between 2016 and 2018 and held the position of Product Group Lead from 2007 to 2018.
Career at Sierra Engineering, Inc.
Curtis Johnson founded Sierra Engineering, Inc., where he worked as Owner from 1995 to 2007, with offices based in Carson City, NV, and Sacramento, CA. During his tenure, he developed a government cost accounting system and implemented corporate security for classified work. His role extended over 12 years, during which he made significant contributions in the field of engineering consulting.
Early Career and Other Roles
Curtis Johnson's early career includes positions at several engineering firms. From 1989 to 1995, he was a Senior Research Engineer at Software and Engineering Associates, Inc. He also served as a Senior Engineer at Aerojet from 1986 to 1989, and as an Engineer at Bently Nevada from 1984 to 1986. These roles were all within the broader aerodynamics and mechanical engineering fields.
Educational Background
Curtis Johnson holds a Master of Science (MS) in Engineering and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Mechanical Engineering, both from the University of California, Davis. He completed his MS in 1 year (1982-1983) and his BS over a 5-year period (1978-1983). His academic training laid a solid foundation for his extensive career in mechanical and aerospace engineering.