Joel Sercel
FounderFounder at TransAstra Corporation
Los Angeles, California, United States
FoundedTransAstra Corporation · YC
Find your path to Joel
274 people in our graph share verified history with Joel — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Frank RotmanunlockedJoel: together at Jet Propulsion Laboratory / NASA (1991–1993)
×2Joel: together at Caltech
×8Joel: together at United States Air Force Academy
Joel: together at Jet Propulsion Laboratory / NASA
About
Joel Sercel holds a PhD in space propulsion and plasma physics from Caltech and has led teams across aerospace engineering, software design, and systems engineering, with experience ranging from small groups to organizations exceeding 100 people.
Founder at TransAstra CorporationYC S21
Intro paths
YC
Joel went through Y Combinator (Summer 2021) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
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In turn, Joel can intro founders to TransAstra Corporation's investors below.
TransAstra Corporation's investors · 4
Experience
- TransAstraPresident & CEOcurrent2015 — presentSouthern California
- MomentusChief Technology Officer2019Santa Clara
- ICS Associates Inc.Founder and Principal Engineer1997 — 2019Greater Los Angeles Area
- California Institute of TechnologyResearch Staff2000 — 2008
- California Institute of TechnologySenior Manager, Technical Staff2006 — 2008
- California Institute of TechnologyVisiting Faculty Lecturer and Director of Laboratory for Spacecraft and Mission Design1993 — 2004
- US Air ForceIPA - Senior Government Official2002 — 2005
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory / NASAPrincipal Engineer and Project Manager1997 — 2000
- JPLMember of Technical Staff, Technical Group Leader, and Program Manager for Spacecraft Technology1983 — 1997Pasadena, CA
Skills & more
Systems Engineering99Engineering Management90Space Systems85Program Management54System Architecture47Aerospace43Integration41DoD26Software Development24Simulations20Product Development16Spacecraft15
+12 more
System DesignSatellite CommunicationsEngineeringEarned Value ManagementRequirements ManagementTechnology ManagementSoftware EngineeringSoftware DesignSatelliteInnovatorEnterprise SoftwareEmbedded SystemsLanguages English
- KIA Practitioner — United Latino Students Association
From Joel's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Joel Sercel?
- Joel Sercel holds a PhD in space propulsion and plasma physics from Caltech and has led teams across aerospace engineering, software design, and systems engineering, with experience ranging from small groups to organizations exceeding 100 people.
- Where does Joel Sercel work?
- Joel Sercel is Founder of TransAstra Corporation.
- What companies did Joel Sercel found?
- Joel Sercel founded TransAstra Corporation.
- Where did Joel Sercel go to school?
- Joel Sercel studied at Caltech (Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering); University of Arizona (B.S., Engineering Physics); United States Air Force Academy (Astronautical Engineering).
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia10,230
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Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3Garry TanPresident & CEOFounded Y Combinator +1Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y CombinatorAlexis OhanianPartnerFounded RedditFred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded Paradigm +1
+ 10,223 more
Caltech mafia153
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Dario AmodeiProgress towards BSFounded AnthropicFei-Fei LiDoctor of Philosophy - PhDFounded World LabsBill GrossBachelor of Science (B.S.)Founded X1 +5Chris VoigtPhDFounded Asimov +2Gil ElbazBSFounded TenOneTen Ventures +1Aditya RajagopalBachelor of Science (BS)Founded Esperto Medical +1
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University of Arizona mafia85
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Eric WuBachelor of ScienceFounded Brain Co. +2Daniel CunninghamBSFounded Plantprefab +2Daniel MarashlianBachelor of Science (B.S.)Founded Portfolium +1Adeel YangB.S./ B.A.Founded Dryvebox +1George Baker Sr.Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.)Founded ParkHub +1Quin HoxieBSFounded Fixture +1
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United States Air Force Academy mafia24
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Brian ElliottSystems EngineeringFounded Blitzy +1Matt KingAerospaceFounded IUNU +1Jeff McChesneyBachelor of ScienceFounded Target Arm +1Tamer HassanBSFounded White Ops +1Cary GunnBSFounded Luxtera +1Brian CarbaughBachelor of Science - BSFounded Andesite
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U.S. Air Force mafia9
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Pete von BehrensStaff SergeantFounded GlassPoint Solar +1Chris HullsLoadmasterFounded LreadyRob LeeCyber Warfare Operations OfficerFounded Dragos websiteCameron HoltDirector of Staff, Air Force Installation Contracting AgencyFounded RohirrimJack WeldePilot / Squadron Deputy Director of OperationsFounded SmartlingNick MastronardiAdvanced Munitions Technology Prgm MngrFounded Polco
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Same school
Also attended Caltech275
Shaun MaguirePartner at Sequoia CapitalDario AmodeiCo-founder & CEO of AnthropicFei-Fei LiCo-founder & CEO of World Labs; Sequoia Professor of Computer Science at StanfordScott BillerInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Seth LieblichInvestment Team at 8VCSusannah BarbeeVice President, Translational Immunology at Deerfield Management Company
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Also attended University of Arizona260
Benjamin BrockwellVenture Partner at Copper Sky CapitalMary PattonScientific Advisory Board at InnoCom Bio EquitiesTom KalinskeInvestor at Alsop Louie PartnersEmily FritzePartner at The Westly GroupPhil WickhamExecutive Managing Director at Sozo VenturesDeena RidleyChief Financial Officer at PEARL ENERGY INVESTMENTS
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Also attended United States Air Force Academy91
John MartinsonFounder at Martinson VenturesPatrick HenshawManaging Director at Render CapitalLeSean BrownAssociate at Context VenturesSteve SargeantSenior Advisory Board at IronGate Capital AdvisorsForrest UnderwoodVenture Partner at IronGate Capital AdvisorsIan BalserAnalyst at Tech Square Ventures
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Shared employers
Also worked at TransAstra3
Also worked at Momentus8
Aaron MitchellVenture Partner at Balerion Space VenturesMikhail KokorichFounder at MomentusArpan RauFounder at OutSail TechnologiesJoseph OorebeekFounder at OutSail TechnologiesJohn RoodExecutive Officer at MomentusPrateek LalExecutive Officer at Interlune
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Also worked at California Institute of Technology145
Alex BlaniaCo-founder & CEO of Tools for HumanitySusannah BarbeeVice President, Translational Immunology at Deerfield Management CompanyHaomiao HuangFounding Partner at Matter Venture PartnersConnor CooleyVenture Partner at Electric Feel Ventures LlcHelen McBrideOperating Partner at BOLD LongevityAlex HartzGeneral Partner at Shine Capital
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Also worked at US Air Force195
Ross Perot Jr.Chairman of The Perot Group at Perot JainNathaniel HardingManaging Partner at Cortado VenturesKevin MandiaGeneral Partner at Ballistic VenturesTidal McCoyChairman at IronGate Capital AdvisorsSteve SargeantSenior Advisory Board at IronGate Capital AdvisorsForrest UnderwoodVenture Partner at IronGate Capital Advisors
+ 189 more