Where did Bob Ess go to school?

Bob Ess studied at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Aerospace); United States Naval Test Pilot School; University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of Business (Master of Business Administration (MBA), Finance).

Bob Ess

Executive at Starlab Space

Houston, Texas, United States

Find your path to Bob

504 people in our graph share verified history with Bob — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Sai SenthilkumarunlockedBob: together at NASA Johnson Space Center (2016)

×4Bob: together at NASA Johnson Space Center

×6Bob: together at University of Houston

Bob: together at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

About

Bob Ess is President at Starlab. He has more than 35 years of experience across large-scale government programs, commercial space, and startup environments, in roles spanning program management and technical management.

Executive at Starlab Space

Intro paths

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In turn, Bob can intro founders to Starlab Space's investors below.

Starlab Space's investors · 5

1789 CapitalPalm Beach · since 2026 Frontera Technology VenturesTexas Mercury FundHouston · $250K – $4M checks Riverbend CapitalWashington Voyager TechnologiesDenver · since 2026

Experience

StarlabPresidentcurrent2025 — presentHouston, Texas, United States
Venus AerospacePresident2023 — 2025Houston, Texas, United States
Venus AerospaceV.P. Program Management2021 — 2023Houston, Texas, United States
Blue OriginSr. Director, New Glenn Program Management Office2016 — 2021
NASA Johnson Space CenterManager, Orion Avionics, Power, and Software Office2013 — 2016Greater Houston
NASA Johnson Space CenterDeputy Manager, WB-57 Aircraft Program Office2011 — 2013Houston, TX (Ellington Field)
NASA Johnson Space CenterFlight Test Program Manager2006 — 2011
NASA Johnson Space CenterDeputy Manager, Space Shuttle Systems Integration Office2000 — 2006Houston, TX
NASA Johnson Space CenterSenior Engineer1987 — 2000Houston, TX

Skills & more

Senior Program ManagementPlanning Budgeting & ForecastingEngineering30Technical Management2Team Building8Operations2Configuration Management12Avionics2Spacecraft20Engineering Management20Technology Management10Flight Test5

+12 more

Project ManagementTestingProgram ManagementRequirements ManagementSpace SystemsIntegrationSystems EngineeringAerospaceMentoringStrategic PlanningLeadershipAnalysis

Languages English

From Bob's professional profile.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Bob Ess?: Bob Ess is President at Starlab. He has more than 35 years of experience across large-scale government programs, commercial space, and startup environments, in roles spanning program management and technical management.
Where did Bob Ess go to school?: Bob Ess studied at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Aerospace); United States Naval Test Pilot School; University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of Business (Master of Business Administration (MBA), Finance).

Same school

Also attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute205

Lawrence BettinoManaging Director at Dot Capital Patch PaczkowskiVenture Partner at IronGate Capital Advisors Jonathan BurbaumEntrepreneur-In-Residence at The Innovation Space Aaron HenshawInvestor at Ambush Capital Carly StrifeInvestor at Ambush Capital Joe LallouzEntrepreneur and angel investor based in New York City

+ 199 more

Also attended United States Naval Test Pilot School1

Paul LwinCo-Founder & CEO at Havoc AI

Also attended University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of Business30

Stephen WedemeyerChief Financial Officer at CARNELIAN ENERGY CAPITAL Turner HarrisVice President at Haddington Ventures, L.L.C.Prasanth ChilukuriCo-Founder and Managing Partner at Soul Street Ventures Melanie GutierrezInvestor at Veriten Sílvio TeixeiraBusiness Angel at REDangels Bram KohlhausenInvestor Relations Associate at Disruptive

+ 24 more

Also attended University of Houston128

Matt CherianVenture Partner at Monta Vista Capital Yibo NianInvestment Director at Intel Capital Preston SniderManager, IT at Sapphire Ventures Eric RagsdaleAnalyst at Mercury Fund Samina FaridInvestor at Golden Seeds YuxinVenture Scout at Little Bristol Partners

+ 122 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Starlab4

Blair GarrouCo-founder & General Partner at Mercury Fund Tim KopraCEO of Starlab and Nanoracks at Scout Ventures Marshall SmithCEO at Starlab Space Brad HendersonChief Commercial Officer at Starlab Space

Also worked at Venus Aerospace8

Blair GarrouCo-founder & General Partner at Mercury Fund Andy TangPartner at Draper Associates Gavin MathisPartner & Chief of Staff at Prime Movers Lab Phillip SarofimFounder & CEO at Trousdale Ventures Philip CarsonPartner at Cubit Capital Christian BaileyVenture Partner at UP Partners

+ 2 more

Also worked at Blue Origin31

Mason AngelFounding Partner at Industrious Ventures A.C. CharaniaAdvisor - Ex. CTO Nasa at Balerion Space Ventures Jordan NooneGeneral Partner at Embedded Ventures Dylan TaylorGlobal business leader, commercial astronaut, and philanthropist active in the NewSpace sector Rob MeyersonCEO of Interlune Christopher LeManaging Partner at Actuate Ventures

+ 25 more

Also worked at NASA Johnson Space Center179

Sai SenthilkumarPartner at Redpoint Ventures Joe FlahertyDirector, Content & Community at Founder Collective Jim BridenstineManaging Partner, Artemis Group at Cortado Ventures Gabe ShermanPresident, Artemis Group at Cortado Ventures Linda CuretonBoard Member at Maryland TEDCO Omar PimentelDirector of Frontier Strategy at Type One Ventures

+ 173 more