Clay Mowry. Photo: AIAA

Clay Mowry will lead the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) as the organization’s next CEO, AIAA announced Tuesday. Mowry succeeds Dan Dumbacher, who is retiring and will leave AIAA at the end of September. Mowry will start in his role on Oct. 1. 

AIAA is the largest aerospace technical society with nearly 30,000 members across industry, academia, and government in aviation, space, and defense.

Mowry has a long career as a space executive, serving as an advisor to space habitation technology company Vast, chief revenue officer at Voyager Space, and as head of global sales at Blue Origin. He spent 15 years as president and chairman of Arianespace’s U.S. subsidiary. 

He is currently president of the space nonprofit International Astronautical Federation and will continue in this volunteer role through October 2025. He is also the founder and chairman emeritus of the Future Space Leaders Foundation, and establish the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) in the ‘90s, serving as its founding executive director.

In this role leading AIAA, Mowry is tasked with growing the organization’s membership. He will focus on engaging students and young professionals, expanding AIAA’s international reach, and reimagining services focused on industry career arcs.

Mowry commented: “AIAA has tremendous potential energy. Today’s Institute is propelled by decades of remarkable advances in aeronautics and astronautics produced by our members. Modern aviation capabilities and space exploration missions are possible due to AIAA members’ purpose-driven pursuits. My task is to harness and unleash our members’ collective energy, to engage the current and next generations of aerospace professionals, and to better serve them throughout their careers.”