Dr Fernando De La Peña Llaca

Dr. Fernando De La Peña Llaca, CEO of Aexa Aerospace, has dedicated 30 years to advancing space exploration. Under his leadership, Aexa became a trusted Federal Contractor for NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense, collaborating with industry giants like Lockheed Martin and Teledyne Brown. An inventor from his undergraduate days, Fernando patented an antimatter spacecraft engine, earning NASA’s attention early on. As former President of NCMA’s Space City Houston chapter and Chair of NASA JSC’s Small Business Council, he has shaped aerospace contracting. His roles with BAHEP and InfraGard further underscore his impact on industry and national security. Honored with NASA’s Innovation of the Year Award, Fernando’s work reflects a passion for the future of space—a vision that inspires and transforms.