FreeFall Aerospace is pleased to welcome Louis “Lou” Springer as President and Chief Operating Officer. With more than 30 years of military leadership and aerospace manufacturing experience, Lou joins FreeFall to help lead the company’s continued growth and transition its innovative technologies into operational systems for space defense, resilient communications, remote sensing, and space science.
Lou brings a unique combination of operational expertise, strategic leadership, and firsthand experience with mission-critical technologies. During his 30-year career in the United States Navy, he served aboard five submarines and held senior leadership positions at several shore commands and the Pentagon. He commanded both the USS Rhode Island and USS Georgia, leading crews responsible for some of the Navy’s most complex strategic and operational missions.
Following his naval career, Lou joined Sargent Controls & Aerospace in Tucson, where he served as Director of Operations and later as General Manager. In those roles, he led a large aerospace manufacturing organization supporting critical submarine, defense, and aviation applications.
“I am extremely pleased to join FreeFall Aerospace and excited about the opportunity ahead of us. FreeFall has developed remarkable technologies with the potential to address some of the most challenging problems in defense and space. I look forward to working with this talented team to mature those technologies, strengthen our operational capabilities, and translate innovation into reliable products and systems for our customers.”
— Lou Springer, President and COO
As President and COO, Lou will lead FreeFall’s day-to-day operations, program execution, organizational development, manufacturing and supply-chain readiness, quality, and financial performance. He will also work closely with the company’s technical leadership to accelerate product maturation and strengthen FreeFall’s ability to support national defense, government, and commercial space customers.
Lou’s experience leading complex military organizations and aerospace manufacturing operations will help FreeFall Aerospace expand its partnerships with government, industry, and research organizations as the company moves into its next stage of growth.
At home in Tucson, Lou enjoys woodworking, hiking, and exploring the surrounding mountains with his family.
