Clayton Swope

Deputy Director, Aerospace Security Project and Senior Fellow, International Security Program
Clayton Swope

Clayton Swope is the deputy director of the Aerospace Security Project and a senior fellow in the International Security Program 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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The Pitfalls of Labeling Whole Space Missions as Inherently Governmental

The Department of Defense is close to finalizing two strategies aimed at harnessing commercial space capabilities for national security needs. While well intentioned, its approach may create unnecessary barriers for adoption and integration of commercial space.

Commentary by Clayton Swope — March 12, 2024

Mission Authorization: Decoding the Space Policy Dilemma

In November 2023, the White House released a proposed framework, called mission authorization, to regulate private sector novel space activities. But Congress and the private sector have different ideas on how to do it.

Critical Questions by Clayton Swope — December 20, 2023