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.

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Salmon Swimming Upstream: Charting a Course in Cislunar Space

Humankind has gazed across the sky towards the Moon since time immemorial. More and more nations and companies will send mission there over the next several years. What challenges do these space operators face and how can they be addressed?

Report by Clayton Swope and Louis Gleason — October 21, 2024

Can NASA Win the Mars Space Race?

NASA's historic mission to bring back samples of Mars is delayed and faces cost overruns. Meanwhile, China is on track to launch its own mission. Can the United States still win this Mars space race?

Critical Questions by Clayton Swope — September 24, 2024

Why Hasn’t Starliner Returned?

The first crewed Starliner mission to the space station was supposed to last for less than two weeks. To date, the mission has lasted over three months, with no end date yet set by NASA. Why is Starliner still in space?

Critical Questions by Clayton Swope — August 19, 2024