Biography:Fatih Ozmen
Fatih Özmen | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Turkish, American |
| Alma mater | University of Nevada, Reno (MS) |
| Occupation | aerospace engineer, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Owner and CEO of Sierra Nevada Corporation, Dream Chaser mini space shuttle |
| Spouse(s) | Eren Ozmen |
| Website | www |
Fatih Ozmen[1] (Turkish: Fatih Özmen; born 1957/1958[2]) is a Turkish-American aerospace engineer, entrepreneur, former cyclist, the co-owner and CEO of Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC).[3] Ozmen is among the 900 richest people in the world as of September 2025.[4]
Early life and education
Born in Turkey,[5] the former Turkish National Cycling Champion rode alongside top Turkish cyclists throughout the 1970s including the 1977 Tour de L'avenir in France.[6] Fatih Ozmen pursued higher education in the United States receiving a M.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno. He went on to obtain a master's degree, with a thesis on navigation and landing systems.
Career
Ozmen started at Sierra Nevada Corporation as an engineering intern in 1981; during his early years at the company, he helped develop numerous systems and managed several key programs. In 1994, Fatih Ozmen and his wife Eren Ozmen acquired Sierra Nevada Corporation.[7] Under the Ozmens, SNC has completed 19 strategic acquisitions,[8] and has expanded to 34 locations in 19 U.S. states, England, Germany and Turkey,[9] with a workforce of over 3,000 personnel
Fatih is a member of the National Space Council Users Advisory Group, established in 2018 under Vice President Mike Pence.[10]
In 2017, Fatih and Eren Ozmen launched Ozmen Ventures, a $5 million venture capital fund headquartered in Reno.[11]
Philanthropy
In 2014, Fatih and wife Eren donated $5 million to the University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Business to support entrepreneurial programs.[12]
Awards and recognition
Personal
- Aviation Entrepreneurs of the Year[13]
- Living Legends of Aviation[14]
- "Ellis Island Medal of Honor"[15]
- Top 10 Most Influential Turkish Americans, TurkOfAmerica[16]
- Honorary Doctorate of Science – University of Nevada, Reno (2016)[17]
- On May 13, 2016, Fatih Ozmen delivered the keynote speech at the University of Nevada, Reno commencement ceremony.[18]
References
- ↑ "SNC'nin Başkanı Özmen zenginler listesinde". 6 June 2015. http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/ekonomi/29214264.asp.
- ↑ Debter, Lauren (2018-07-12). "Meet The Unknown Immigrant Billionaire Betting Her Fortune To Take On Musk In Space". Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesdigitalcovers/2018/07/11/meet-the-unknown-immigrant-billionaire-betting-her-fortune-to-take-on-musk-in-space/.
- ↑ "Fatih Ozmen, Owner & CEO | Sierra Nevada Corporation | SNC". http://www.sncorp.com/snc_fatihozmen.php.
- ↑ "Fatih Ozmen" (in en). https://www.forbes.com/profile/fatih-ozmen/.
- ↑ "NECO | Fatith Ozmen". Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20140714203012/http://www.neco.org/medal-of-honor/medalists-search/user/ozmen-fatith. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
- ↑ "TUR 2014 - Haberler". http://www.tourofturkey.org/2014/TR/haberler/feyzi-acikalindan-50-yilin-hikayesi-raflarda-yerini-aldi.
- ↑ "Archived copy". http://www.unr.edu/silverandblue/archive/2009/fall/nsb_fall_2009_web_44-49.pdf.
- ↑ "Acquisitions | Sierra Nevada Corporation | SNC | Sierra Nevada Corporation". Archived from the original on 2014-06-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20140625071502/http://sncorp.com/snc_acquisitions.php. Retrieved 2014-07-01.
- ↑ "About SNC | Sierra Nevada Corporation". http://www.sncorp.com/about_snc.php.
- ↑ Jeff Foust (15 May 2020). "White House updates membership of Space Council advisory group - SpaceNews.com". SpaceNews.com. https://spacenews.com/white-house-updates-membership-of-space-council-advisory-group/.
- ↑ "Ozmen Ventures launches $5 million fund to spark local entrepreneurial ecosystem | NNBW.com". http://www.nnbw.com/news/ozmen-ventures-launches-5-million-fund-to-spark-local-entrepreneurial-ecosystem/.
- ↑ Alumni pledge $5 million to UNR entrepreneurship center , by Reno Gazette-Journal, posted Wednesday, Sept 10, 2014
- ↑ "2014 NCET / RGJ Award Winners - NCET: Business. Technology. Events". NCET. http://ncet.org/tech-awards/2014-ncet-rgj-award-winners/. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
- ↑ "2016/14 Annual Honorees". Living Legends of Aviation. https://living-legends-of-aviation.myshopify.com/pages/honorees.
- ↑ "Sierra Nevada Corporation CEO, Fatih Ozmen, Awarded Ellis Island Medal of Honor". https://www.prweb.com/releases/sierra_nevada_corporation_ceo_fatih_ozmen_awarded_ellis_island_medal_of_honor/prweb11861892.htm.
- ↑ "Sierra Nevada Corporation Owners Named in Top 10 Most Influential Turkish-Americans by TurkOfAmerica Magazine". Prweb.com. https://www.prweb.com/releases/sierra_nevada_corporation_owners_named_in_top_10_most_influential_turkish_americans_by_turkofamerica_magazine/prweb11834943.htm.
- ↑ Honorary Degree Nomination - Eren and Fatih Ozmen
- ↑ Fatih Ozmen University of Nevada, Reno Spring Commencement 2016 Address
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