Our Executive Mentors

PHIL LARSON

Phil Larson has spent more than a decade in the space community across the Federal government, industry, and academia. Phil – who was senior advisor for space and innovation in the Obama White House from 2009 to 2015 – joined NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 2020 as a strategic planner in the Planetary Science Directorate following three years at the University of Colorado Boulder. During his time at the White House, Larson worked closely with Dr. John P. Holdren, President Obama’s science and technology advisor, on the nation’s science, technology and innovation priorities. Larson coordinated strategic communications across multiple federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and Departments of Commerce, Defense, Education, and Energy. He also spent time in the White House Office of Management and Budget helping to craft NASA's budget and policy priorities. Following his time in DC, Phil joined SpaceX’s corporate communications and government affairs efforts. He led communications rollouts, including the Hyperloop university student STEM competition, and a first-of-its-kind Mars partnership with NASA. He also collaborated with the FAA, NASA, Department of Defense, U.S. industry, and foreign entities on SpaceX launch campaigns.

In addition to his service in three aerospace sectors, he is a member of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Commercial Space Operations advisory board, as well as the Science and Entertainment Exchange at the National Academy of Sciences. From 2017 to 2019 he served a two-year appointment to The Space Foundation board of directors as the new-generation representative. He received a bachelor of science degree in aerospace studies, with minors in space studies, psychology, human factors, and communications, from Embry-Riddle. He completed graduate coursework in science and technology policy from The George Washington University before taking a job in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy in 2009. logy Policy in 2009.