Every year on Veterans Day, we pause to acknowledge the courage, sacrifice, and dedication of the men and women who have served our country. At SpaceX, the message is direct and heartfelt: “Thank you to all those who have served, including the 1,800+ members of the SpaceX team. Happy Veterans Day!”
It’s a powerful moment of recognition for two distinct yet interconnected communities. On one hand, we have the veterans whose service has shaped our national security, our freedoms, and our collective future. On the other, we have the veterans-turned-engineers, technicians, and leaders at SpaceX who bring that same spirit of service into aerospace — pushing boundaries, launching rockets, and making the unreachable reachable. And the statistic stands out: approximately 13% of SpaceX’s workforce has served in the armed forces, bridging the gap between military service and commercial spaceflight.
For the individual veteran at SpaceX, Veterans Day carries a layered meaning. It’s not only about the uniform they once wore or the missions they completed – it’s also about how that background now fuels innovation, mission discipline, and a culture of resilience. Working on launches, re-usability systems, and satellites requires the same focus, teamwork, and reliability that military operations demand. Recognizing their contribution — both past and present — is more than symbolic. It’s about acknowledging how service extends into new arenas.
At a broader level, this kind of acknowledgment matters for corporate culture and public perception. When a company like SpaceX publicly thanks veterans — including its own team members — it signals that service, sacrifice, and skill are valued not just in armed forces, but in the high-tech industries that shape our future. It helps create a culture where veteran professionals feel seen and supported, and where their transition into civilian innovation spaces is celebrated. It also reminds the rest of us that progress — whether in space or on Earth — builds on human dedication and teamwork.
As we reflect this Veterans Day, let’s consider the continuity of service: the soldier who served overseas, the engineer working at a launch complex, the technician recovering a reusable booster at sea — they all contribute to something larger than themselves. So to all who have served, to those serving now, and to the 1,800+ at SpaceX who carry that legacy forward — thank you. Your contributions reach far beyond the mission patch or the rocket’s flame.
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