Karman Taps Defense Titan Jon Rambeau for Next Growth Phase

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA – March 12, 2026 – Karman Space & Defense (NYSE: KRMN) has appointed defense industry titan Jon Rambeau as its new Chief Executive Officer, a strategic move signaling a new chapter of scaled growth for the rapidly expanding company. Rambeau will assume the role on March 23, 2026, succeeding founding CEO Tony Koblinski, who is retiring after a distinguished 40-year career.

Koblinski, who guided Karman from its inception in 2020 through a successful IPO and a series of transformative acquisitions, will remain a guiding force as a director on the company’s board. The transition marks a pivotal moment for Karman, as it looks to leverage its established market position and evolve from a high-growth startup into a scaled enterprise prepared for the next decade of challenges in the space and defense sectors.

A New Era of Scaled Ambition

The selection of Jon Rambeau, a 30-year industry veteran with a formidable track record at two of the world's largest defense contractors, underscores Karman's ambitious future. Most recently, Rambeau served as president of the $8 billion Communications & Spectrum Dominance segment at L3Harris Technologies, a role in which he directed a vast portfolio covering electronic warfare, advanced communications, and threat sensing systems. He previously managed the $7 billion Integrated Mission Systems segment at the company.

Before his tenure at L3Harris, Rambeau spent more than 25 years at Lockheed Martin, holding senior executive positions across a wide spectrum of the defense giant’s operations. His leadership roles included Vice President and General Manager of Integrated Warfare Systems and Sensors, where he oversaw critical programs in missile defense, radar, shipbuilding, and directed energy. His extensive experience managing multi-billion dollar business units and complex, technology-driven programs makes him uniquely qualified to steer Karman through its next phase.

“The Board conducted a rigorous search for a CEO who can lead Karman through this next period of significant growth, where we will continue to leverage advanced technology, scale and our position as a trusted partner,” said David Stinnett, chairman of Karman’s board of directors. “Jon emerged as the clear and unanimous choice to lead Karman, with the right combination of experience, capabilities and a passion for innovation to drive continued profitable growth.”

Building on a Foundation of Rapid Growth

Rambeau inherits a company built on a foundation of explosive growth and strategic execution under Tony Koblinski. Since its founding in 2020, Karman has established itself as a critical “merchant supplier” of highly engineered systems to more than 80 prime contractors across 130-plus space and defense programs.

Under Koblinski’s leadership, Karman achieved several key milestones that cemented its market position. The company completed a successful Initial Public Offering in February 2025, raising over $500 million and signaling strong investor confidence in its mission. Koblinski also orchestrated four strategic acquisitions that significantly expanded Karman's capabilities. These included the October 2025 purchase of Five Axis Industries, a supplier of engine subsystems for commercial launch vehicles, and the recent February 2026 acquisition of Seemann Composites and Material Sciences (MSC), which thrust Karman into the maritime defense sector.

These moves helped drive impressive financial results, including a reported 33% adjusted EBITDA CAGR and a funded backlog exceeding $750 million by late 2025. Stinnett praised Koblinski's tenure, stating, “Tony Koblinski led Karman on an incredibly successful growth trajectory... We thank Tony for his relentless commitment to Karman, our customers, and our shareholders, and we look forward to his continued contribution as a director on our board.”

For his part, Koblinski expressed pride in the company's achievements. “I could not be prouder of the Karman team and what we have accomplished in such a short time,” he said. “With a deep and capable leadership bench supporting him, Jon has the experience, people and the infrastructure to continue creating significant shareholder value.”

Driving Innovation for National Security

Rambeau's appointment is not just about managing scale; it’s about accelerating innovation to meet the nation’s most pressing security needs. His deep background in technology transition, C6ISR, and advanced sensors aligns directly with Karman’s core offerings in Payload & Protection Systems, Hydro/Aerodynamic Interstage Systems, and Propulsion & Launch Systems.

The company is a key supplier for programs central to U.S. Department of War priorities, including hypersonics, strategic missile defense, and assured access to space. Karman's alignment with these priorities was recently underscored by its investment in a new production facility in Utah, which received $5 million in Defense Production Act funding to expand manufacturing capacity for solid rocket motor nozzles and other critical components.

In his new role, Rambeau is expected to leverage his expertise to deepen Karman’s technological edge and strengthen its role as a vital partner to both established industry leaders and new entrants in the space and defense ecosystem.

“I am honored and humbled to assume the role of CEO, and lead the company through its next phase of growth,” said Rambeau. “This is a unique opportunity to enable the success of every space and defense prime... At a moment when rapid solution delivery is critical to the nation, Karman remains positioned to respond.”

Navigating a Dynamic Market

The leadership transition comes as the global aerospace and defense market faces a confluence of heightened geopolitical tensions, accelerating technological change, and the rapid commercialization of space. Increased defense budgets worldwide are fueling demand for advanced capabilities, while supply chain resilience has become a paramount concern.

Karman has strategically positioned itself to thrive in this environment. The recent acquisition of Seemann Composites, for instance, expanded its reach into the maritime domain, providing advanced composite structures for U.S. Navy submarine and unmanned vessel programs. This move diversifies Karman’s portfolio, transforming it into a more resilient, all-domain solutions provider.

With Rambeau at the helm, Karman is poised to build upon its agile, technology-forward model. His experience steering massive defense enterprises, combined with the innovative and rapidly built foundation laid by Koblinski, equips the company to navigate the complexities of the modern defense market and solidify its role as an indispensable partner in bolstering national security from the depths of the sea to outer space.