Clay Mowry CEO American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Clay Mowry is the CEO of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and a globally recognized space industry executive. Clay is a lifetime AIAA member and was elected as an AIAA Fellow in February 2024.

Before joining AIAA, Clay’s career spanned the commercial launch and satellite sectors as a senior executive for leading space companies and trade associations. 

Clay currently serves as president of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), the world’s leading space nonprofit comprising 513 member organizations from 77 countries including space agencies, companies, research organizations, societies, and museums. He will continue in this volunteer role through October 2025.

Clay has held executive leadership roles in the dynamic commercial space ecosystem, spurring innovation and achieving operational successes. Most recently, he served as an advisor to space habitation technology company Vast. Previously, he worked as chief revenue officer at Voyager Space, a satellite, national security, and space station technology company. Earlier, Clay led global sales at Blue Origin, providing commercial and government customers with safe and affordable space transportation services with the reusable New Shepard and New Glenn launch vehicles. He spent 15 years as president and chairman of Arianespace, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of a leading global launch services company.

In the 1990s, Clay helped establish the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) and served as its founding executive director. He led the nonprofit alliance of U.S. satellite operators, manufacturers, and ground equipment suppliers, advocating for the commercial satellite industry on policy, regulatory, and legislative issues.

Clay has an unparalleled passion for empowering the next generation of aerospace explorers and leaders. He enjoys hands-on counseling opportunities, serving as an executive mentor with the Brooke Owens Fellowship. He is the founder and chairman emeritus of the Future Space Leaders Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to the career development of young space and satellite industry professionals. He also served for over a decade on the advisory board for the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC).

Clay’s impact in aerospace has been recognized with honors including the Commercial Spaceflight Federation James Kuzma Community Award, the Society of Satellite Professionals International Mentor of the Year Award, and the American Astronautical Society Industry Leadership Award.

Clay earned his master‘s degree in business administration from Georgetown University and his bachelor’s degree in politics and government from Ohio Wesleyan University.

Clay is a native of Schenectady, New York. He and his wife, Kristin, reside in Chevy Chase, Maryland, where they raised their three children.