As President of Firefly Space Transport Services (STS), Jason is responsible for leading business development and sales for all of Firefly Aerospace’s customers – commercial, civil, and military. He is also responsible for all Federal Government relations and Marketing and Communications for its parent Firefly Aerospace, Inc. Prior to Firefly, Mello’s final assignment was as a Colonel at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), where he was the Chief Research and Technology Officer for Science and Engineering. In this role, he led a team of senior scientists directing an over $500 million per year portfolio researching and developing future technologies vital for both the Air Force and Space Force. Before this posting, Mello served as the Director of the National Intelligence Portfolio where he led the oversight team for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment overseeing a $9 billion per year portfolio of intelligence community programs. During this role, he pioneered the Department’s small satellite architecture and drive toward hybrid architectures.  He has led at multiple levels including leading the first Launch Acquisition Division at the National Reconnaissance Office and multiple other satellite and intelligence programs.  Jason led and pioneered the NRO’s use of small launch vehicles to meet a paradigm shift in procuring launch services. Additional, he served at the White House for then President George W. Bush and other special assignments vital to the National Security of the United States.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a Master of Science in Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, and a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from The George Washington University.