Ret. United States Space Force Colonel Michael Hopkins Joins Vivace as Senior Advisor

Vivace International Corporation (“Vivace” or the “Company”), a leader in mission‑critical propulsion tanks and aerospace systems, today announced that an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. (“Cerberus”), a global alternative investment firm, has completed the full acquisition of the Company.

Cerberus initially made a strategic growth investment in Vivace in 2024 and has partnered with the Company to strengthen its engineering and manufacturing capabilities, expand its team with key hires, and secure new program supporting U.S. defense and spaceflight customers. The additional investment positions Vivace to further scale its production capacity, enhance its advanced manufacturing capabilities, and support a growing portfolio of national security and space programs.

In addition to the transaction, Vivace announced that retired U.S. Space Force Colonel and former NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins has joined the Company as a Senior Advisor. As former Commander of SpaceX’s Crew‑1 Resilience mission to the International Space Station (ISS) and a senior leader across Air Force and Space Force programs, Colonel (Ret.) Hopkins brings deep expertise in space‑system engineering, advanced flight‑test operations, and large, complex program execution. Working closely with Vivace’s leadership team, he will focus on the successful execution of existing programs and the continued expansion of operations across the aerospace and defense sectors.

“Vivace has established itself as a trusted partner on some of the nation’s most advanced aerospace and defense programs,” said Steve Cook, Vivace’s Chairman and Cerberus Senior Managing Director. “We believe its engineering capabilities are increasingly critical to national security and space priorities. We’re deepening our commitment to the Company’s mission and see opportunities to scale production, accelerate innovation, and expand Vivace’s role in programs of national importance.”

Colonel (Ret.) Hopkins commented, “Vivace has built a reputation for delivering mission‑critical hardware with exceptional reliability and performance. Partnering with Cerberus brings more than capital, it adds deep operational resources and industry expertise to help scale the Company’s impact. I’m excited to work with this team to drive Vivace’s leading-edge capabilities and support a growing need of high‑priority defense and spaceflight programs.”

About Colonel (Ret.) Michael Hopkins

Michael Hopkins is a retired U.S. Space Force Colonel, former NASA astronaut, and seasoned aerospace engineer with more than three decades of military, flight test, and spaceflight experience. He most recently served as Space Force Director of Test and Evaluation at the Pentagon. Prior to that, Colonel (Ret.) Hopkins was Commander of Crew‑1 aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Resilience, leading the first post‑certification flight of the spacecraft and completing a long‑duration mission aboard the ISS. During two missions to the ISS, he logged more than 330 days in space and conducted five spacewalks.

Prior to his selection as a NASA astronaut in 2009, Colonel (Ret.) Hopkins held senior roles in the military including Special Assistant to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Program Manager in the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office at the Pentagon. He began his career in 1992 as a U.S. Air Force officer, working on advanced space‑system technologies before graduating as a Distinguished Flight Test Engineer from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.

Colonel (Ret.) Hopkins has been recognized with the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Aerial Achievement Medal, two Air Force Commendation Medals, and four Air Force Achievement Medals. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Illinois and a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Stanford University.

About Vivace International

Founded in 2006 and based in NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans, Louisiana, Vivace provides mission‑critical product development, engineering, and management services for U.S. spaceflight systems, hypersonics, and launch vehicle markets. Its products include flight hardware, ground support equipment, development hardware, tooling, and engineering services. From concept development through detailed design, analysis, manufacture, and test, Vivace develops high‑performance, efficient solutions and delivers them on time. Learn more at https://vivace.com/.

About Cerberus

Founded in 1992, Cerberus is a global alternative investment firm with approximately $70 billion in assets across complementary credit, real estate, and private equity strategies. The firm invests across the capital structure where it believes its integrated investment platforms and proprietary operating capabilities can help improve performance and drive long-term value. Cerberus’ tenured teams have experience working collaboratively across asset classes, sectors, and geographies as they seek to achieve strong risk-adjusted returns for investors. For more information, visit www.cerberus.com.

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