James William Benson

Who was James William Benson?

Jim Benson was the Founding Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SpaceDev, a publicly traded space technology development company. Jim started the trend of successful computer entrepreneurs moving into the space sector when he founded SpaceDev in 1997. Prior to founding SpaceDev, Jim was founder and President of Compusearch Software Systems and ImageFast of McLean, Virginia.SpaceDev specializes in affordable, high-performance small satellites, safe, affordable hybrid-based propulsion systems, and space mechanisms. SpaceDev has over 200 employees in three states. SpaceDev developed the highly successful CHIPSat microsatellite for NASA, the rocket motors for Paul Allen’s SpaceShipOne, and has successfully flown 2,000 mechanisms on over 200 missions.Jim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of Missouri, where he was 2005 Alumnus of the Year. Jim founded the non-profit Space Development Institute, and is a founding Board member of the Personal Spaceflight Federation.