Jordan Noone

{{short description|American aerospace engineer}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Jordan Noone | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|11|30}} | image = File:Jordan Noone.jpg | birth_place = Pasadena, CA | education = University of Southern California (BS) | employer = Relativity Space, Embedded Ventures | title = Co-Founder, Founding CTO, and Executive Advisor of Relativity Space <br /> General Partner, Embedded Ventures }}

'''Jordan Noone''' (born 1992) is an American aerospace engineer and the Founding CTO of Relativity Space. He is now a General Partner at Embedded Ventures<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Anglada DeRaad|first=Casey|date=2021-03-01|title=Newspace New Mexico Newsletter - March 2021|work=Newspace New Mexico Newsletter|url=https://newspacenm.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/NewSpace-New-Mexico-March-Newsletter.pdf|access-date=2021-05-28}}</ref> which he co-founded in 2020 with Jenna Bryant.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2021-06-25|title=Military building an appetite for commercial space services|url=https://spacenews.com/military-building-an-appetite-for-commercial-space-services/|access-date=2021-06-25|website=SpaceNews|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==

Noone became the first student and youngest individual in the world to get Federal Aviation Administration clearance to fly a rocket to space while leading the Rocket Propulsion Lab at the University of Southern California.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jordan Noone, Relativity Space|url=https://incubate.usc.edu/jordan-noone-relativity-space/|access-date=2020-09-28|website=Incubate USC|language=en-US}}</ref> Noone is also active in the advocacy space; In January 2025, Noone initiated a petition to change the United States Postal Service's slogan to "Pushing the Envelope," aiming to modernize the organization's image and emphasize its commitment to innovation and progress.

== Career ==

=== Blue Origin === {{Main|Blue Origin}} In 2013, after his junior year at the University of Southern California, Noone interned with Blue Origin's propulsion group.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Godlewski|first=Carl|date=2013-05-28|title=From the Land of Screenplays a NewSpace Trojan Emerges: An interview with Jordan Noone of the USC Rocket Propulsion Lab|url=http://newspaceglobal.com/node-863/|access-date=2020-11-05|website=New Space Global|language=en}}</ref>

=== SpaceX === After graduating from the University of Southern California, Noone was hired by SpaceX as an In-Space Propulsion Development Engineer.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Boyle|first=Alan|date=2019-10-01|title=Relativity Space raises $140M to stay on track for 3D-printed rocket's launch|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2019/relativity-space-raises-140m-stay-track-3d-printed-rockets-launch/|access-date=2020-11-05|website=GeekWire|language=en}}</ref>

=== Relativity Space === {{Main|Relativity Space}} Noone co-founded Relativity Space, a company building a 3D printer for rockets, with Tim Ellis in 2015. As of October 2019, the company had raised $185 million in equity and grew to over 170 employees.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sheetz|first=Michael|date=2019-10-01|title=Relativity, a company 3D printing entire rockets, raises $140 million from venture firms Bond, Tribe|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/01/rocket-builder-relativity-raises-140-million-from-mary-meeker-others.html|access-date=2020-09-28|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref>

In September 2020, Noone stepped down as the CTO of Relativity Space, becoming an Executive Advisor to the company.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sheetz|first=Michael|date=2020-09-09|title=Co-founder of 3D rocket printer Relativity steps down as tech chief, will stay as advisor|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/09/relativity-space-co-founder-jordan-noone-steps-down-as-chief-technical-officer.html|access-date=2020-09-28|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref>

===Embedded Ventures===

In 2020, Noone co-founded '''Embedded Ventures''', a venture capital firm focused on investing in dual-use space startups that support both commercial and national security applications. The firm seeks to bridge the gap between Silicon Valley innovation and the needs of the U.S. Department of Defense, with particular emphasis on early-stage companies working in areas such as in-space manufacturing, energy, and logistics. In 2021, Embedded Ventures signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Space Force to align venture capital investment with national security priorities.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Space Force signs CRADA with Embedded Ventures |website=SpaceNews |date=December 2021 |url=https://spacenews.com/u-s-space-force-signs-crada-with-embedded-ventures/}}</ref> In January 2023, the firm announced the launch of its first fund, totaling $100 million, to support startups advancing technologies that can serve both civilian and military purposes.<ref>{{cite news |last=Watson |first=Riley |title=VC firm Embedded Ventures launches $100 million fund focused on national security and space |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/31/vc-firm-embedded-ventures-fund-for-national-security-space.html |work=CNBC |date=January 31, 2023}}</ref>

=== Zoo (formerly KittyCAD) === In 2021, Noone co-founded KittyCAD, a company focused on building programmable, API-first tools for mechanical computer-aided design (CAD). The company aimed to modernize hardware design workflows by offering a GPU-native geometry engine and developer-friendly APIs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Introducing Zoo |url=https://zoo.dev/blog/introducing-zoo |website=zoo.dev |date=2023-12-13 |access-date=2025-05-27}}</ref>

In 2023, KittyCAD rebranded as Zoo and launched new tools including ML-ephant, a machine learning API, and Text-to-CAD, which enables users to generate 3D models from natural language input.<ref>{{Cite web |title=KittyCAD Announces Zoo, Launches New Machine Learning API |url=https://www.streetinsider.com/PRNewswire/KITTYCAD%2BANNOUNCES%2BZOO%2C%2BLAUNCHES%2BNEW%2BMACHINE%2BLEARNING%2BAPI/22595326.html |website=StreetInsider |date=2023-12-13 |access-date=2025-05-27}}</ref>

Noone currently holds a position of Executive Chairman for Zoo, a role he assumed in 2022 when Jessie Frazelle joined the company as CEO.

== Patents == Noone is listed as the inventor on three patents related to Relativity Space: "Real-time adaptive control of additive manufacturing processes using machine learning",<ref>{{US patent|10234848B2}}</ref> "Methods and apparatuses related to payload launch vehicles.",<ref>{{US patent|20250011890A1}}</ref> and "Real-time adaptive control of manufacturing processes using machine learning."<ref>{{US patent|20200166909A1}}</ref>

Noone is also listed as the inventor on an additional patent in relation to his work on Zoo: "Computer aided design system, application, and application programming interface"<ref>{{US patent|20230161649A1}}</ref>

== Recognitions ==

Noone was recognized by ''Forbes'' in two of their 30 Under 30 lists in 2019 - the Manufacturing and Industry list<ref>{{Cite web |title=30 Under 30 2019: Manufacturing & Industry |url=https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2019/manufacturing-industry// |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809173839/https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2019/manufacturing-industry/ |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> and the Big Money list.<ref>{{Cite web |title=30 Under 30 2019: Big Money |url=https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2019/big-money// |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127184039/https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2019/big-money/ |archive-date=November 27, 2019 |access-date=2020-11-05 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>

In 2018, Noone was included on ''Inc.'''s Rising Stars list of Most Inspiring Young Entrepreneurs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet the 30 Most Inspiring Young Entrepreneurs of 2018 |url=https://www.inc.com/30-under-30-2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419073350/https://www.inc.com/30-under-30-2018 |archive-date=April 19, 2019 |access-date=2020-11-05 |website=Inc.com |language=en}}</ref>

''Business Insider'' recognized Noone on their 2018 "30 And Under: These are the rising stars in tech who are driving innovation" list.<ref>{{Cite web |title=30 And Under: These are the rising stars in tech who are driving innovation |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/30-and-under-tech-industry-rising-stars-2018-5|access-date=2020-11-05|website=Business Insider|language=en}}</ref>

Noone currently holds two patents for real-time adaptive control of manufacturing processes using machine learning,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Real-time adaptive control of manufacturing processes using machine learning|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US20200166909A1/|access-date=2022-05-05|website=Google Patents|language=en}}</ref> and is skilled at Matlab and Simulink.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jordan Noone|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-noone/|access-date=2022-05-05|website=LinkedIn|language=en}}</ref>

==References== <references/>

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Noone, Jordan}} Category:University of Southern California alumni Category:American aerospace engineers Category:American chief technology officers Category:Living people Category:USC Viterbi School of Engineering alumni Category:American company founders Category:1992 births Category:Businesspeople from Pasadena, California