NASA’s Jared Isaacman Wins 1st Wash100 Award for
Extraordinary Space, Aviation and Business Success
Executive Mosaic is excited to honor Jared Isaacman, NASA administrator, as a first-time Wash100 Award winner for his exceptional accomplishments in space, aviation and business.
Isaacman has served as NASA administrator since December of last year. He has eight military aircraft certifications and five civilian jet type ratings. Isaacman also holds three air and space records and certifications.
The 2026 Wash100 Award popular vote is open! Vote for Jared Isaacman and other top federal officials today at Wash100.com.
Why Is Jared Isaacman Winning a 2026 Wash100 Award?
Incredible Business Acumen
Isaacman is a uniquely talented aerospace professional with achievements in business and flight. While in high school, Isaacman identified opportunity in the growing realm of digital markets and founded the payment processing company United Bank Card, now known as Shift4.
The company serves hundreds of thousands of businesses across the world. Shift4 went public in 2020 and raised $345 million in its initial public offering, according to Business Insider.
Exceptional Aviation Success
Isaacman holds military aircraft certifications for platforms certified in military aircraft including the Northrop F-5 Tiger and T-38 Talon, and the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. He holds civilian certifications for aircraft such as the Cessna CE-500, 510 and 525.
“Jared has one of the most diverse and impressive backgrounds for a NASA administrator in recent memory,” said Jim Garrettson, Executive Mosaic CEO and founder of the Wash100 Award. “Not only did he create his own payment processing company, Shift4, but he’s also an experienced test pilot with over 8,000 flight hours.
“If succeeding on Earth wasn’t enough, Jared has also achieved in space as he commanded the first all-civilian orbital spaceflight aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft in 2021. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Jared circumnavigated the globe in a Cessna Citation CJ2 light jet in nearly 62 hours in 2009.
“Jared’s respect in the space community was demonstrated when the Senate voted 67-30 to confirm him as the newest NASA administrator. I’m thrilled to honor Jared with his first Wash100 Award and I’m even more excited for what he has in store for NASA and civil space in 2026,” Garrettson continued.
Who Is Jared Isaacman?
The current NASA administrator has built an extraordinary track record of achievement in a remarkably short period of time. Isaacman in 2021 served as mission commander of Inspiration4, the world’s first all-civilian mission to orbit. The flight traveled across a low Earth orbit on a three-day endeavor. It raised over $240 million for charity.
Isaacman in 2011 co-founded Draken International, a provider of tactical fighter aircraft for military pilot training. Draken owns what is considered one of the world’s largest private fleet of fighter jets. The company supports more than 25 nations yearly in missions ranging from elementary electronic warfare training to large multi-national exercises.
President Trump, in his announcement nominating Isaacman for NASA administrator for a second time, called him the right man for the role.
“Jared’s passion for space, astronaut experience and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe and advancing the new space economy, make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new era,” Trump said, according to SpaceFlight Now.
Isaacman earned a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2011. He received an honorary doctoral degree from Embry-Riddle in 2024. Isaacman is an honorary fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.
What Are Jared Isaacman’s Recent Career Achievements?
Isaacman was tested early as NASA administrator when he skillfully managed the first medical evacuation in the International Space Station’s 28-year history. Veteran U.S. astronaut Mike Fincke launched with three others in August of last year on a SpaceX flight, but he fell ill in January in a medical event that required fast attention by his astronaut teammates, according to the Associated Press. Finckle and his fellow astronauts returned to Earth in January in an 11-hour mission in a Dragon capsule.
Isaacman in 2024 commanded the first privately-financed space walk called Polaris Dawn. During this mission, Isaacman and his crew in a Dragon spacecraft reached 871 miles altitude, considered the highest Earth orbit achieved since the Apollo program.
What Are Jared Isaacman’s Plans for NASA?
Isaacman’s plans for NASA include performing major missions simultaneously. He told Space News that he wants the agency to execute Artemis 2, the first crewed flight to the Moon in generations, the right way.
Isaacman plans to add a new Artemis mission in 2027 and perform a minimum of one lunar landing annually beginning in 2028. NASA is moving the Artemis III mission to 2027 and is planning for a lunar landing on Artemis IV in 2028.
He wants NASA to do all it can to help its two Human Landing System providers, Blue Origin and SpaceX, accelerate progress on their vehicles. Isaacman also wants NASA to progress on nuclear power and propulsion in support of a future human mission to Mars.
What Does Jared Isaacman’s Success Mean for GovCon?
GovCons can expect a continued NASA emphasis on fixed-price contracting, as opposed to traditional cost-plus awards where the government pays for cost overruns. Isaacman testified in May of last year during a Senate confirmation hearing that he was a fan of fixed-price contracting, according to Bloomberg.
Fixed-price contracting is where firms, which receive payment in advance to build hardware or systems, are liable for excess costs. About 35 percent of NASA awards are fixed-price arrangements.
Congratulations to Jared Isaacman on his 2026 Wash100 Award!
Click here to cast your vote for Isaacman in the 2026 Wash100 popular vote competition.