A former security manager at SpaceX has filed a lawsuit alleging gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and serious breaches of classified protocols at the company.
Jenna Shumway, who joined SpaceX in 2022 and later earned a promotion to Senior Contractor Program Security Officer, named senior employee Daniel Collins in her complaint. Collins, a former Department of Defense official, was hired by SpaceX to oversee security compliance within its government programs. Shumway alleges that Collins violated government-mandated top-secret protocols and withheld information about these breaches from federal authorities.
According to the lawsuit, filed initially in May in Los Angeles Superior Court and later moved to federal court upon SpaceX’s request, Shumway says she faced increasingly hostile work conditions once Collins became her superior in spring 2024. She claims Collins gradually stripped her of key responsibilities, creating an untenable working environment that ultimately led to her dismissal in October 2024.
Shumway’s complaint goes beyond her personal situation, stating that Collins engaged in inappropriate behavior toward other female colleagues as well. Among the alleged misconduct are instances of preventing female employees from performing required security tasks, setting them up for operational non-compliance, staring inappropriately at a female subordinate during meetings, and inviting a female employee to drink alcohol after work using offensive language.
The lawsuit states that SpaceX’s human resources department repeatedly ignored complaints made by Shumway and other employees about Collins’ behavior. Allegedly, HR’s only reaction was suggesting that female employees avoid being alone with Collins. Shumway seeks unspecified damages in connection with her claims.
Collins previously came under scrutiny following reports in December 2024 of SpaceX facing multiple federal inquiries over inadequate adherence to top-secret security protocols. At that time, Collins was identified as having discouraged reporting of security clearance violations and permitting executives without proper clearances into classified meetings. The revelations led to at least three separate federal investigations.
This litigation against SpaceX adds to a growing number of similar suits confronting the company. SpaceX is currently involved in investigations and lawsuits by the California Civil Rights Department and the National Labor Relations Board, centering on allegations of gender discrimination and harassment in its workplaces.
