Lentz accepts SpaceX position

Edward Lentz III has accepted the position of Falcon Flight software program manager for SpaceX in Los Angeles, Calif.

Lentz is a 1995 graduate of Midland High School. His first job was as a paperboy for the Midland Daily News, where he at one time carried three routes by himself. He graduated from Central Michigan University in 2001 with a bachelor’s in computer science and attained his master’s degree in IT from Virginia Tech in 2006.

Lentz went to work for Lockheed Martin after graduation from Central Michigan. His time there was spent doing top secret work, and at one point he transferred from his position in Alexandria, Va., to Valley Forge, Pa. In time, his division was sold to The SI Organization. For the past year, Lentz has worked in Los Angeles and had most recently worked inside SpaceX as part of a three man subcontractor from The SI Organization.

When that contract ended on Aug. 29, SpaceX offered him a short-term contract as an independent contractor while they worked out an offer for official SpaceX employment.