Clayton Swope

Deputy Director, Aerospace Security Project and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department
Clayton Swope

Clayton Swope is the deputy director of the Aerospace Security Project and a senior fellow in the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Before joining CSIS, Swope led national security and cybersecurity public policy for Amazon’s Project Kuiper, an initiative to increase global broadband access through a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit. While at Amazon, he also worked on cloud policy issues. Prior to his time at Amazon, Swope served as a senior adviser on national security, space, foreign affairs, and technology policy issues for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He also worked for more than 14 years at the Central Intelligence Agency, serving largely in the Directorate of Science and Technology. He holds a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from the University of Notre Dame.

Programs & Projects

Areas of Expertise

In the News 8 of 46 results

Show More

All Clayton Swope Content

Filter by

1 - 10 of 41 results

Rethinking Rules of Engagement for Space

Military authorities to take counterspace actions should be broadened and delegated to the tactical level, allowing for the development of space rules of engagement. Not doing so limits the freedom of U.S. commanders to use space most effectively for joint operations.

Commentary by Clayton Swope — June 18, 2025

The Golden Dome as a Service

The United States should consider how acquiring the Golden Dome as a commercial service would unlock tremendous innovation and speed advantages, and bring the full creative might of the U.S. commercial sector to bear addressing this national security priority.

Report by Clayton Swope — June 5, 2025

NASA Budget Outlook Discussion

To learn more about the 2026 NASA budget proposal, released May 2, 2025, please join the Aerospace Security Project for a moderated, virtual discussion.

Event — May 14, 2025

Space Threat Assessment 2025

The 2025 Space Threat Assessment covers the growing counterspace capabilities of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and others. It also features analysis on GPS jamming and spoofing, satellite rendezvous and proximity operations, unintentional debris creation, and other counterspace topics.

Report by Clayton Swope, Kari A. Bingen, Makena Young, and Kendra LaFave — April 25, 2025

The Future of Military Power Is Space Power

For decades, the U.S. military has relied on space for joint operations. But that was just the first chapter of the story on space power. Looking to the future, new military space missions can dramatically increase the lethality of the joint force.

Commentary by Clayton Swope — April 9, 2025

Audio Briefs

The Future of Military Power Is Space Power

An audio version of “The Future of Military Power Is Space Power,” a new commentary by CSIS's Clayton Swope. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Clayton Swope — April 9, 2025

Audio Briefs