From FIU Law to the Moon: A Graduate’s Out of This World Achievement

FIU Law is reaching new heights thanks to Alumnus Cody Curabba ’23 and his work with Firefly Aerospace! On March 2nd, Firefly Aerospace achieved a world-first: a commercial company sticking a lunar landing on its first try. Accompanying this lander is a plaque engraved with the names of Firefly employees and key stakeholders that contributed to this historic achievement. Cody’s name was among those on the plaque, which now rests in the Mare Crisium basin!

Curabba completed his J.D. with cum laude honors at FIU College of Law in 2023, after earning his Bachelor of Science in Criminology from FSU. Cody’s school-related experience centered around the general administrative law process, with a focus on environmental and space law.

Cody serves as Launch Operations Counsel for Firefly Aerospace, where he navigates the complexities of government oversight of commercial launch operations. This includes written advocacy regarding the FAA, FCC, NOAA, ITAR, and EAR licensing regimes, as well as spearheading license applications and maintaining active licenses. The bulk of this experience has been before the FAA and FCC, the primary U.S. Government entities responsible for overseeing commercial space operations in the U.S.

As FIU Law continues to build its legacy, graduates like Cody Curabba are leading the way in industries shaping the future. We’re excited to see what’s next for him!

Below is an image of the plaque now placed in the Mare Crisium basin, with Cody Curabba’s name highlighted in yellow for the purpose of this photo.