OUR ORIGINS

Our journey began in 2014 when Camilo, a former soccer player for Millonarios FC, started working as an engineer at SpaceX and combined his passions for rockets and soccer by founding Space United Football Club—a community for diverse space engineers to connect through the sport. The club quickly expanded beyond the space industry, drawing in a broader soccer community and sparking interest in space among those unfamiliar with it. This unique connection led to invitations to high-profile events where the team showcased their space experiences and soccer skills, inspiring people of all ages, including youth. In 2019, Camilo and his brothers, Andres and Sebastian—engineers at Blue Origin and former soccer players—partnered with schools to engage students, starting with a Title I middle school where their talks linking soccer and space captivated students from low-income Latino backgrounds. Their initiative, “Soccer in Space,” grew globally, fostering curiosity and excitement in kids and bridging the gap between space exploration and everyday passions. Space United evolved into a platform that makes space accessible and meaningful, resonating with all generations through the universal love of soccer.

Meet the Team

  • Camilo Tobacia

    FOUNDER

    Camilo Tobacia is an aerospace engineer and entrepreneur who earned his Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University. He has held various Engineering and Production Leadership roles at SpaceX, where he led production efforts for the Dragon Spacecraft and Falcon 9 Booster, focusing on propulsion fluid systems and advanced manufacturing. Currently, he works as the Lead Manufacturing Engineer at Blue Origin for the New Shepard program. In addition to his engineering career, Camilo is the founder and CEO of Space United, where he leads business development for a professional soccer club, and serves as chairman of the non-profit foundation Goal for Launch, which aims to inspire underrepresented youth to pursue careers in STEM through the intersection of space and soccer.

  • Emily Chow

    CO-FOUNDER & EDUCATION LEAD

    Emily Chow is a co-founder of Space United and serves as the Director of Communications and Lead Developer of the Space United Youth Academy program. She holds a B.A. in Legal Studies from U.C. Berkeley and has professional experience as a multilingual educator in Title I schools within the Bellevue School District. Currently teaching in a dual language public school, Emily connects STEM concepts with real-world applications while promoting emotional awareness through Social Emotional Learning. As a board member for the foundation Goal for Launch, she is dedicated to inspiring underrepresented youth to pursue careers in STEM through the innovative intersection of space and soccer.

  • Andrés Tobacia

    BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT LEAD

    Andres is an experienced professional with over 16 years in manufacturing, industrial distribution, and supply chain management. His career spans roles in project management, manufacturing, supply chain, and business development at Fortune 500 companies like Emerson, Cameron by SLB, and Rotork, as well as leadership positions in start-ups. Andres specializes in designing emergency safety systems and flow control applications for industries such as oil and gas and mining. He holds a B.S. in Industrial & Systems Engineering from Texas A&M University and has completed advanced studies at Harvard in negotiation, entrepreneurship, and small business operations.

  • Sebastian Tobacia

    COMMUNITY OUTREACH LEAD

    Sebastian Tobacia leverages his engineering expertise and passion for soccer to drive innovation and community impact. At SpaceX, he led supply chain improvements, earning a Lean Six Sigma Certification. Now in aerospace, he integrates technologies like augmented reality into production environments to empower teams and enhance productivity. As leader of Space United’s Community Outreach, Sebastian has brought STEM and sports resources to over 7,000 underserved students worldwide. While earning his B.S. in Engineering at Texas A&M, he organized a 400-participant World Cup tournament, showcasing soccer’s power to unite. In his free time, he plays soccer, volunteers, and explores science and nature.