Yen Yu Matsutomi
Vice President, Global Supply Chain Engineering, Blue Origin
BSAAE ’03, MSAAE ’05, PhD AAE ‘09
Yen Yu Matsutomi credits Purdue's rigorous curriculum, hands-on culture, and emphasis on critical thinking as the foundation that prepared her to be effective from day one of her career.
She joined Blue Origin as a propulsion engineer and rose steadily through the organization over more than 15 years. Her early work focused on the BE-3PM engine program, where she served as a test engineer, lead responsible engineer for the injector, and lead combustion stability analyst. She went on to lead the Injector Product Group and serve as Director of Combustion Devices before being appointed Senior Director and later Vice President of the Engines Design Office.
Her technical contributions include leading the development of the injector for the BE-3 engine, which powered all New Shepard missions. Her team earned the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy, awarded by the National Aeronautic Association, for demonstrating rocket booster reusability through five successful flights of a single booster and engine. She also played an instrumental role in the successful inaugural launch of New Glenn, Blue Origin's heavy-lift vehicle and a significant milestone in commercial space exploration and national defense.
In 2025, Matsutomi was appointed Vice President of Global Supply Chain Engineering, her current role. She was recognized as a 2020 Outstanding Aerospace Engineer by Purdue's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics and serves on the school's Industrial Advisory Council.
Career Highlights
| 2025 – present | Vice President, Global Supply Chain Engineer, Blue Origin |
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| 2022 – 2025 | Vice President, Engines Design Office, Blue Origin |
| 2019 – 2022 | Senior Director, Engines Design Office, Blue Origin |
| 2018 – 2019 | Director, Combustion Devices, Blue Origin |
| 2016 – 2018 | Injector Product Group Lead, Engines, Blue Origin |
| 2015 – 2016 | Lead Combustion Stability Analyst, BE-3PM Engine, Blue Origin |
| 2013 – 2015 | Lead Responsible Engineer, BE-3PM Injector, Blue Origin |
| 2011 – 2012 | Full Scale LOx/LH2 TCA Test Engineer, BE-3PM Engine, Blue Origin |
| 2010 – 2012 | Subscale Lox/LH2 Test Engineer, BE-3PM Engine, Blue Origin |
Education
| 2003 | BS Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University |
|---|---|
| 2005 | MS Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University |
| 2009 | PhD Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University |