Bret Johnsen, CFO of SpaceX and an alumnus of the USC Leventhal School of Accounting, joined Marshall Dean Geoffrey Garrett for a wide-ranging “Dean’s Dialogue” discussion on emerging technologies, radical innovation, and Trojan connections.

A proud alumnus, Johnsen is also a newly appointed member of the USC Board of Trustees and the father of two Trojans. Speaking directly to the families attending Trojan Family Weekend, the CFO provided insights into the value of a USC education and the Trojan Network.

“I’m a perfect example of what I want for my kids and for all of your kids, which is to find your path and be given the opportunity along the way to decide what that path is,” Johnsen said. “USC does an amazing job — did then and still does, even probably better now — of making sure that everyone is coming here to recruit your kids.”

Johnsen’s path to SpaceX took a circuitous route. Originally an auditor for Coopers & Lybrand, he pivoted into a career with technology companies Broadcom and Mindspeed Technologies, where he quickly rose through the ranks. He attributes that success to a willingness to experiment and take on any job, advice he passes along to students.

“When I was at Broadcom … I rotated through the company and probably took four or five different jobs in my nine years there,” Johnsen said. “When the corporate controller (principal accounting officer) role came up, the reason I got the job was because I knew more about the company than anybody else because I’d done that rotation. So push yourself, challenge yourself, and take rotations when you can.”

In 2011, Johnsen was approached by a little known company named SpaceX which he initially assumed was a storage company based on the name. He soon learned it was an aerospace company, and despite admitting to the recruiter that his space knowledge began and ended with Star Wars, Johnsen took the job and has now worked for SpaceX for 14 years.

The company’s work transcends multiple sectors, from space transportation and reusable rockets to planetary exploration and their internet service, Starlink. In 2025, SpaceX is projected to earn $15.5 billion in revenue, surpassing NASA’s projected 2026 budget.

Despite its size, Johnsen said the company’s private status has allowed it to stay nimble and take chances other companies couldn’t afford.

“If you come in [to SpaceX], you would feel like you’re in a startup,” Johnsen said. “It’s a 17,000 person startup. And that makes us incredibly nimble. It allows us to take risks.”

One such risk has been in reusable rockets, developed to decrease costs, increase flights, and potentially democratize space travel. Johnsen reflected on multiple disastrous and highly publicized take-offs that could have tanked a publicly traded company. Being private, however, has enabled SpaceX to support experimentation in the spirit of innovation.

“It’s okay to take risks,” Johnsen said. “That responsible engineer on the floor … feels that and is able to make those decisions. I think that empowerment has been really special for us.”

SpaceX’s location sparks special interest for USC families. The company was founded in Los Angeles where it remains to this day. Johnsen has used the proximity to connect with USC students and provide tours of the company factory.

“It’s easy for someone like me to actually come and work with your students,” Johnsen said. “I’ve actually had student groups come to SpaceX and see the factory where we’re building satellites and rockets.”

Johnsen knows better than anyone the quality of Trojan alumni, demonstrated by the numerous opportunities at SpaceX for USC graduates.

“USC has been one of our top two or three target schools for many, many years at SpaceX,” Johnsen said. “I think we are one of the most attractive places to go for kids, and that’s simply because I personally know how great the education is here … If you look at what will differentiate in a very tough market, it will be top schools.”

When given a chance to ask questions, one Trojan parent asked the CFO what he looks for in new hires. He had a simple answer:

"You're looking for someone who has the great skill sets that they get here at USC,” Johnsen said.