Clay Mowry Will Succeed Former CEO Dan Dumbacher

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, or AIAA, released on September 3 that its Board of Trustees had selected Clay Mowry to take over as their next CEO. He, as an experienced space industry executive, will take his position beginning October 1.

Mowry is the successor of former AIAA CEO Dan Dumbacher, who has been in the role since 2018. The organization shared Dumbacher’s plan to step down in January, and he will be formally leaving the institute on September 30.

AIAA is an aerospace technical society with nearly 30,000 members from 91 countries. The organization was formed in the 1963 merger of the American Rocket Society and the Institute of Aerospace Sciences. Their mission is to expand aerospace collaboration, ingenuity, and community through conferences and expositions, developing industry standards, and advocating for U.S. policy issues at several levels.

Their next CEO, Clay Mowry, has over 25 years of industry experience. He has worked in both commercial and government leadership roles, and most recently served as president of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF). Mowry will remain in this volunteer position through October 2025. His other previous posts include Chief Revenue Officer at Voyager Space, Vice President for Global Sales at Blue Origin, President and Chairman of Arianespace, and founding Executive Director of the non-profit Satellite Industry Association. 

As the next AIAA CEO, Mowry will be tasked with youth engagement in the organization along with expanding and reimagining services for aerospace industry professionals.

"It's a privilege to help shape the future of aerospace, leading the Institute and empowering members to achieve the next breakthroughs that will enable us to fly farther, faster, smarter, and safer in the Earth's atmosphere and beyond the Kármán Line,” Mowry stated. “I look forward to all we'll do together."

FMI: www.aiaa.org