Portal Space Systems develops advanced spacecraft that redefine what’s possible in space.

Jeff Thornburg is the CEO of Portal Space Systems. He is a career space engineer, having held prestigious roles across the space and energy sector’s top commercial and governmental organizations. Thornburg’s career isa testament to his devotion to humanity’s advancement on and off Earth. He held pivotal roles across the commercial space landscape, including VP of propulsion engineering at SpaceX, where he architected and developed the Raptor Engine, as the director of mechanical engineering and manufacturing for Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and in the energy sector as chief of engineering at Commonwealth Fusion Systems. Jeff is also a mentor for Creative Destruction Lab’s space track.

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Neil Baleva serves as the Director of Supply Chain and Procurement at Portal Space Systems, overseeing sourcing, procurement, supplier development, and manufacturing readiness for next-generation spacecraft. He has over thirteen years of experience in aerospace, robotics, and medical devices, focusing on demand planning, strategic sourcing, and supply chain operations.

Before joining Portal, Neil led supply chain teams at Crane Aerospace both in the US and Taiwan, supporting power systems for space and defense applications, and held positions at Amazon Global Robotics, where he handled large-scale demand planning and procurement. He is recognized for creating resilient, data-driven supply chains that facilitate quick hardware development. Neil is a Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) by APICS.

Mark Bitterman is the Vice President of Government Affairs at Portal Space Systems. He previously served as Vice President of Government Relations at Stratolaunch LLC and has held senior roles at several space industry leaders, including United Launch Alliance (ULA), SpaceX, and Orbital Sciences Corporation. Bitterman’s career also includes a tenure at Booz Allen Hamilton, specializing in national security policy at the National Reconnaissance Office. His government experience includes serving as Special Assistant for Intelligence and Special Operations at the Pentagon and as a Military Legislative Assistant to a U.S. Congressman. Bitterman holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University, a bachelor’s in international politics from Rutgers University, and a Certificate in National Security from Harvard University.

Prashaanth Ravindran is the co-founder and Vice President of Engineering of Portal Space Systems, where he leads spacecraft and propulsion development for the company’s next-generation maneuverable space systems. He brings more than 20 years of experience across aerospace propulsion, computational modeling, and advanced energy systems.

Before co-founding Portal, Prashaanth worked as a Senior Propulsion Analyst at Blue Origin, supporting the BE-4 engine program. He previously held propulsion engineering roles at Stratolaunch, Interstellar Technologies, and Cummins. Additionally, he is the founder of Exergon Analytics, an aerospace consulting firm specializing in advanced propulsion modeling and simulation. Prashaanth holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from The University of Texas at Arlington.

Ian Vorbach is the Chief Revenue Officer and co-founder of Portal Space Systems, where he leads the company’s revenue strategy as it develops next-generation maneuverable spacecraft. He holds degrees from Yale University, Stanford University, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Before founding Portal, Ian helped scale high-growth consumer brands including BodyArmor and CORE Hydration, which were later acquired by Coca-Cola for $5.6 billion and Keurig Dr Pepper for $525 million, respectively. A former aerospace engineer and business leader, Ian previously worked at Stratolaunch and Interstellar Technologies. He also authored the space industry newsletter SpaceDotBiz, which attracted more than 2,500 readers.

Lincoln Bonner is Vice President of Defense Strategy at Portal Space Systems, bringing nearly three decades of experience in military space operations, flight testing, acquisition, and national security strategy. Before joining Portal, Lincoln commanded Space Delta 12, which conducts test and evaluation of U.S. Space Force capabilities. His career also included leadership roles at the National Reconnaissance Office and Headquarters U.S. Air Force, as well as developmental flight testing involving the F-117, B-2, and F-22. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Lincoln holds degrees from MIT, the University of Tennessee, and the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies.

Scott brings more than a decade of experience developing propulsion systems, spacecraft, and launch vehicles across the commercial space industry. As Chief Product Officer at Portal Space Systems, he oversees product strategy and development for the company’s next-generation maneuverable spacecraft platforms.

Prior to Portal, Scott served as CTO and COO at Gravitics and held senior propulsion leadership roles at Virgin Orbit, contributing to the company’s first orbital launches. He also worked on propulsion and launch vehicle programs at Virgin Galactic and SpaceX, supporting the Merlin, NewtonThree, and LauncherOne programs. Scott holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Aerospace Engineering from USC.

Amy Miller is the Head of Talent & People Operations at Portal Space Systems, where she oversees recruiting and organizational development for the company’s expanding spacecraft programs. She has over 20 years of experience building technical and manufacturing teams in aerospace and technology, with a strong emphasis on transparent, people-first hiring practices.

Before joining Portal, Amy spent more than six years supporting Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite initiative, including leading recruiting for satellite manufacturing and production teams under Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper). She has also held recruiting leadership roles at Google and Microsoft and is the founder of Recruiter Auntie, a career guidance platform for job seekers.

Jen Scholten is the Director of Marketing and Commercial Business Development at Portal Space Systems, where she leads the company's external strategy, brand positioning, and customer engagement across commercial, civil, and national security markets. Named a Top Woman in Satellite by Via Satellite, Jen brings more than a decade of experience spanning media, consumer brands, and deep technology. Beyond Portal, she leads the Canadian space community space6ix and advises organizations including Zenith Pathways, Launch Canada, and NASA's Space Apps Challenge. She is passionate about translating complex technologies into real-world impact by helping build the partnerships, markets, and communities that enable innovation to thrive.