Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has presented the Armenian State Award for Global Contribution to High Technologies to Kam Ghaffarian, an internationally recognised entrepreneur and visionary in space exploration and advanced technologies.

Pashinyan presented the award at the 17th Armenian State Award for Global Contribution to High Technologies ceremony, held at the presidential residence.

“With this award, we recognise not only technological achievements, but also the people whose ideas, courage and sustained work change humanity’s understanding of the limits of what is possible. Mr Ghaffarian, your journey is one of the finest examples of this. In 1969, when you were still a child, you watched the first human steps on the Moon. That event inspired you to pursue science and space technologies.

“In 2024, the Odysseus spacecraft, built by Intuitive Machines, the company you co-founded, landed on the Moon, becoming the first space system to reach it in 52 years. This is a very impressive story of how a childhood dream can become a scientific and technological achievement of global significance,” Pashinyan said in his address at the ceremony.

Speaking after receiving the award, Ghaffarian expressed regret that he had not visited Armenia sooner. He said he had grown very fond of Armenia and would certainly return.

“I have always made sure that my vision becomes a goal. My goal is to deepen humanity’s knowledge.

“I believe that humanity’s ultimate destination is other stars. If we do not destroy ourselves, perhaps one day we will reach those other stars. I think that, initially, there could be a city beyond space where people can live and work,” Ghaffarian said.

Kam Ghaffarian is a visionary entrepreneur in the space and energy sectors, who has been instrumental in founding companies aimed at the further development of human civilization. Driven by a mission to advance the human condition and the frontiers of knowledge, Kam Ghaffarian has, over the course of his more than 37-year professional career, founded several successful companies that are transforming the space and energy sectors. He has amassed extensive experience operating at the intersection of government contracting and technological innovation, playing a pivotal role in the evolution of these industries.

Kam Ghaffarian began his entrepreneurial journey in 1994 by founding Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT), a company that provides services to the public sector with a focus on information technology, engineering, scientific applications, and mission operations. SGT grew to become NASA’s second-largest engineering services contractor, providing support for the International Space Station (ISS) and astronaut training. With an annual revenue exceeding half a billion dollars, SGT was subsequently acquired by KBR. Previously, he held numerous technical and leadership positions at companies such as Lockheed Martin, Ford Aerospace, and Loral.

Dr. Kam Ghaffarian is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of X-energy. The company develops nuclear energy solutions for applications in both terrestrial energy and space propulsion systems. He is a co-founder and chairman of several companies, including: Intuitive Machines, LLC (NASDAQ: LUNR)-a leader in providing scientific and technological solutions under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program (since December 2012); Axiom Space, Inc.-a private space infrastructure company (since August 2016); Quantum Space, LLC-a space infrastructure company (since May 2021); and IBX, LLC-an innovation and investment company (since October 2018). Following the co-founding of Axiom Space, which aims to unlock the innovative potential of space through commercialization, he serves as the Executive Chairman of the company’s Board and acts as a key strategic advisor for the development of the space economy.

Kam Ghaffarian is also an active philanthropist and the founder of a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing scientific research and the possibilities for interstellar travel.

Dr. Ghaffarian holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science (Engineering) from The Catholic University of America, a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Capitol College, a Master’s degree in Information Management Sciences from The George Washington University, a PhD in Management Information Systems from Kennedy-Western University, and PhD in Technology from Capitol Technology University.