Firefly Aerospace Inc.: director resignation and appointment

What happened

• Firefly Aerospace Inc filed an 8-K reporting that Thomas Zurbuchen resigned as a director, effective Sep 30, 2026, and that the board appointed Rick Ambrose as a Class 3 director, effective Oct 5, 2026. The filing states Dr. Zurbuchen’s resignation was not the result of any disagreement with the Company or its management.

Key details

• Rick Ambrose was appointed to serve as a member of the audit committee and the compensation committee, and the board determined he is “independent” under Nasdaq and SEC rules, including the independence requirements of Rule 10A-3.
• Mr. Ambrose, age 68, currently serves on the board of Textron Inc.; he retired Mar 2022 as Executive Vice President—Space of Lockheed Martin Corporation and has held senior roles at SDR Ventures, Ambrose Advisors, LLC and McKinsey & Company.
• His term is as a Class 3 director expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2028 or until his successor is duly elected and qualified.
• Under the company’s outside director compensation policy, non-employee directors receive an annual cash retainer of $100,000; Mr. Ambrose will receive a one-time restricted stock unit grant with a value of $150,000 and an annual restricted stock unit grant with a value of $150,000 (the first annual grant to be prorated), with each grant vesting in full on the first anniversary of the grant date and subject to full acceleration immediately prior to a Change in Control. He will enter into the company’s form of indemnification agreement for directors.

Why it may matter

• This Form 8-K was filed under Item 5.02 (departure of directors or certain officers; election of directors), which covers director resignations and appointments and related disclosures such as committee memberships, independence determinations, and director compensation. The filing does not show why the insider traded or why the company acted.