Will Whitehorn has been awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of his outstanding services to the aerospace and space industry. This marks a historic milestone as the first time the honour has been awarded specifically for contributions to the UK space sector.
Will Whitehorn has been a pioneering force in the commercialisation and advancement of the UK space industry. He is best known for his role as the founding President of Virgin Galactic, where he led the development of the world’s first commercial space tourism venture. Appointed in 2004, Will was instrumental in transforming Sir Richard Branson’s vision into a structured business model, helping to establish the regulatory, technological, and commercial foundations for private spaceflight. He continued in this role until 2011, later serving as a special advisor to Branson and as a trustee of Virgin Unite, the group’s social entrepreneurship and environmental foundation.
Will is also Chair of Seraphim Space Investment Trust PLC, the world’s first publicly listed and largest space technology investment fund. Under his leadership, the Trust played a pivotal role in accelerating the growth of the global space tech ecosystem by investing in early-stage companies developing breakthrough technologies in satellite communications, Earth observation, in-orbit services, and space-based data analytics. Will helped shape the fund’s strategic direction, governance, and global investor engagement, positioning Seraphim as a cornerstone of the UK’s space finance infrastructure and a key player in the commercial space economy.
Will’s leadership within the space sector extends across numerous influential roles:
- Non-Executive Board Director with the Royal Air Force (2018–2021), where he held a rank equivalent to Air Vice-Marshall. During this time, he was instrumental in the conceptualisation and establishment of UK Space Command, helping to define its strategic objectives and integration with allied space operations. His contributions supported the RAF’s evolving role in space defence and national security.
- President of UKspace (2019–2024), the national trade association representing the UK space industry.
- Member of the UK Space Exploration Advisory Committee (2022–2024), advising the UK Government on space policy and exploration strategy that has been incoporated into the recently announced Defence Spending Review.
- Chair of Clyde Space Ltd, where he oversaw its transformation into ÅAC Clyde Space AB, a leading satellite manufacturer.
- Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University (2021–2026), where he continues to champion innovation and education in science and technology.
- Will is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and Vice President of The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. He is also the recipient of the Royal Aeronautical Society’s prestigious Geoffrey Pardoe Space Award for services to the space industry.
Quote from Mark Boggett, CEO of Seraphim Space:
“Will Whitehorn has been a visionary leader and tireless advocate for the UK space sector. Over a career spanning multiple decades, he has helped transform the UK’s space ambitions into a globally recognised industry. From his pioneering work at Virgin Galactic to his leadership at Seraphim Space, Will has been instrumental in creating a thriving commercial space ecosystem. His passion, strategic insight, and commitment to innovation have not only accelerated investment and the growth of companies like Seraphim Space but also helped position the space industry as a strategic priority for the UK Government in a pivotal era as Government’s across the world look to enhance their space sovereign capabilities. This OBE is a richly deserved recognition of his extraordinary contributions. On behalf of everyone at Seraphim Space, I extend our warmest congratulations.”
Commenting on the award, Will Whitehorn said: “I am deeply honoured by this award and very grateful to everyone I have worked with over the decades for their support. Space really is “The Final Frontier” and industrialising in Space and seeing it as the place for our dirty data centres and a source of limitless solar power is the only way humankind will ever get to net zero. I will remain a champion of both space exploration and industrial endeavour as long as I am lucky enough to remain on this planet and even if I one day manage to leave it.
“Education is a key to understanding the technological opportunities up in Space and I am proud to be Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University which is in the forefront of business, science, innovation and technology education in the U.K. and I also feel as much that I am receiving this for all the future OBE recipients studying at our great University today.”
