Savannah Horton has carved out a career at the intersection of aerospace and policy, turning complex science, engineering, and regulation into opportunities for industry growth and community access.
Her love for space began at her childhood goat farm in Virginia, where clear, star-speckled skies were the norm and space documentaries were the Friday night family activity. In high school, Horton got involved in radio astronomy, by studying pulsars at the National Science Foundation’s Green Bank Observatory. That immersion in space science provided a foundation she later translated into policy.
Research to industry: At the University of Virginia, Horton pursued interdisciplinary studies that merged law, policy, and space. Her master’s thesis on lunar safety zones foreshadowed the regulatory debates now unfolding in cislunar space.
It was at school that Horton discovered her niche. “I loved space, but I didn’t enjoy the math and coding,” she said. “I was a debate kid. I could do policy.”
Horton was part of the inaugural Zed Factor Fellowship, and joined Zeno Power to support regulatory efforts for space nuclear power. After a stint on the Aerospace Industries Association comms team, Horton became a consultant at Guidehouse. She works with the FAA’s safety analysis division, in the agency’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation, to support launch and reentry licensing.
“I like being a liaison,” she said. “I like getting to do both—working with government and industry.”
Beyond work: Horton’s impact extends well beyond her day job, as she champions access in aerospace. She supports Title I schools with scholarships and mentorship through the American Rocketry Challenge, and helped secure a NASA Space Act Agreement to expand STEM clubs in underserved communities. Horton continues to mentor early-career professionals through the Zed Factor.
