Executive Team

Mr. Svetkoff has had a distinguished career. After college, Svetkoff joined the U.S. Navy in 1978 and flew the venerable A-4 fighter jets. Svetkoff left the Navy in 1984 and began a new career as a Continental Airlines pilot, prior to founding Starfighters in 1996. On behalf of the remaining board and management, the Company thanks the Svetkoff’s for their visionary leadership and efforts in progressing Starfighters to its current stage of development and wishes them success in their future endeavors.

Tim Franta has served as Starfighters’ Vice President of Development since October 18, 2022. He is leading development of the STARLAUNCH air-launch system intended to fly rockets capable of delivering payloads to space. Before Starfighters, he was Energy Florida’s Deputy Director in Cape Canaveral (October 2018 to September 2022) and previously Director of Special Projects (2012 to October 2018). His work focused on space and energy business development, translating financial and technical requirements into fundable business plans and aligning public policy with private and government financing. Earlier, he worked for the Florida Legislature and served as Chief of Staff for the Florida Space Authority, where he helped draft space transportation legislation, oversaw FAA licensing of two launch pads, and supported more than $300 million in space and ground infrastructure funding. He also authored the Florida Space Transportation Act.

Mr. Whitney has served as Starfighters Space, Inc.'s Chief Financial Officer since January 2024.  Mr. Whitney has been serving as a Finance Executive for technology companies for the past 10 years with both private and public companies. From November 2016 to May 2020 Mr. Whitney served as the Chief Financial Officer for RentMoola Payment Solutions Inc. ("RentMoola"). From September 2018 to January 2020 he also served on the Board of Directors for RentMoola. During his tenure at RentMoola, Mr. Whitney oversaw the financing and accounting divisions at the Company; he was responsible for all capital raises which included a Series A, and retail investments. From May 2020 to September 2022 he served as Chief Financial Officer for Property Vista Software Inc. ("Property Vista"). At Property Vista, Mr. Whitney was responsible for the finance and accounting office at the Company and was responsible for all capital and debt solutions while employed there. From September 2022 to December 2023 Mr. Whitney was Chief Financial Officer for a large Canadian independent film studio, BRON Studios. Mr. Whitney had a team of over 60 finance and account staff and was responsible for over $500MM in film and investment assets. Mr. Whitney is a CPA (CA) designated in British Columbia Canada, articling in public practice at Ernst & Young LLP. Mr. Whitney has won several distinguished awards in his field including Ernst & Youngs '40 Under 40' award for Western Canada. Mr. Whitney has a Bachelor of Business Administration minoring in Advanced Accounting from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.