Clay Mowry, the new AIAA CEO talks space, the new AIAA, future space and more. A gem of a discussion!

We welcomed Clay Mowry, the new CEO of AIAA, to the program to discuss the "new" AIAA and the overall health of our space industry. The 66-minute conversation kicked off with an in-depth look at AIAA’s dynamic new logo and the story behind it, as told by Clay. Make sure you are looking at the new logo when Clay tells its story. Check it out at www.aiaa.org.

First things first:

First, visit AIAA.org to check out the new logo. Then, while you're viewing it, listen to Clay’s story about its design and meaning. We’d love to hear your thoughts—feel free to share them in the comments on our show blog or on our Substack: doctorspace.substack.com. You will hear about the connection to the Bell-X-1. How many of you remember the Bell X-1 and its sound barrier-breaking legacy? If you don't, this is the perfect time to learn about this iconic chapter of not only U.S. history but global aerospace history.

We then moved into a discussion about the changes within AIAA which is both an aviation and space organization. Clay provided us with the AIAA history but he also told us that the space division has a growing prominence of within the organization. As Clay explained, space is becoming a major focus in our economy and world and AIAA reflects that shift.

When asked about his vision moving forward, Clay emphasized outreach to younger members, especially students, and a strong push toward digital transformation. He shared his experiences visiting many of the country’s top aerospace engineering and science programs, where he listened directly to students to better shape AIAA's future direction. Be sure to listen what he said about how where most students get their news and information.

After exploring AIAA’s plans for student engagement and youth retention, one listener asked an important question: What about the older members—the "geezers" of the community? Don’t miss this part of the show, where Clay addresses AIAA’s outreach to its more seasoned members.

In addition to discussing AIAA’s internal evolution, Clay shared his insights on broader industry topics including:

* The space economy

* Trends in investment and risk capital

* The Artemis program

* Starship, SLS, and the Gateway program

* NASA’s increasing focus on human spaceflight

* Potential budget cuts affecting NASA science and other agencies

We also covered exciting updates to Aerospace America, AIAA’s flagship magazine and journal, as well as their book publishing division. Clay encouraged everyone to subscribe to My Daily Launch, AIAA’s newsletter. You can find it here:

👉 https://aiaa.org/news/newsletters/my-daily-launch

As we wrapped up the show, Clay was asked what his biggest surprise has been so far as the new CEO. His answer? Well... you’ll have to listen to the program to find out!

Thank you for tuning in,Dr. Space

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