Paul Tompkins
About Paul Tompkins
Paul Tompkins is the Director of Mission Systems & Flight Operations for Orbital Reef and Lunar Programs at Blue Origin, with a background in robotics and mission architecture.
Title
Paul Tompkins currently holds the position of Director, Mission Systems & Flight Operations for the Orbital Reef and Lunar Programs at BLUE ORIGIN.
Experience in Mission Systems and Flight Operations
Paul Tompkins has extensive experience in mission systems and flight operations. Currently, he is the Director of this division for the Orbital Reef and Lunar Programs at BLUE ORIGIN. He previously served as Director of Mission Systems & Flight Operations for the Artemis Human Landing System at BLUE ORIGIN from 2020 to 2021. Prior to these roles, Tompkins was engaged in various high-responsibility positions at SPACE X, including Crew Dragon Mission Director and Manager of Mission Operations.
Robotics and Advanced Technologies Expertise
Paul Tompkins has a strong background in robotics and advanced technologies. In 2021, he worked as the Mission Architect for Robotics & Advanced Technologies at BLUE ORIGIN. His educational background includes a Master’s and Ph.D. in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University. He has also participated in numerous planetary analog field experiments, showcasing his deep expertise in technology-focused planetary exploration.
Educational Background
Paul Tompkins has achieved comprehensive academic training in fields relevant to aerospace and engineering. He holds a B.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University, and both an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University. His education laid a strong foundation for his diverse roles in aerospace engineering and operations.
Space and Planetary Exploration
Throughout his career, Paul Tompkins has contributed significantly to space and planetary exploration. Notably, he played a role in the discovery of water at the lunar south pole and developed operational concepts to further human exploration of the moon. His work at SpaceX and BLUE ORIGIN has solidified his reputation as an expert in space missions and operations.