Erin Neal is a space geek, a policy wonk, and a Washington insider. She helps Velocity’s aerospace/defense and space tech clients influence key decision makers and conduct successful business development with the federal government. 

Erin leverages two significant advantages as she deftly navigates the Washington policy landscape on behalf of publicly traded and privately held companies, nonprofits, trade associations, and coalitions. First is her unique background in both science and policy. Erin can translate technical language into policy speak, and vice versa. She crafts effective messaging and delivers it to the right person at the right time for maximum impact.

Her second advantage is her reputation as a trusted advisor. Erin has cultivated strong bipartisan relationships for two decades with senior officials in the national security, space, and intelligence communities throughout the Executive Branch, Congress, and industry. Highlights include:

• Single-handily developed a space policy practice from scratch for SIGNAL Group, a respected Washington advocacy and communications firm. She advanced the lawmaking, regulatory, and business development interests of the aerospace/defense industry’s most established players (Boeing, Raytheon) as well as entrepreneurial entrants (Ligado, Planet Labs, Virgin Galactic).

• Directed government relations for Orbital ATK (now Northrup Grumman Innovation Systems). Erin led successful industry efforts to pass watershed legislation that modernized export controls on commercial U.S. satellites.

• Served as Ball Aerospace corporate liaison to NASA and NOAA. She directed all legislative initiatives for civilian and commercial satellite programs. Erin also coordinated industry efforts to run a final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope in the wake of the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy.

• Served on the staff of Sen. Bill Nelson and two members of the US House of Representatives. Erin directed Sen. Nelson’s legislative strategy for all issues before the Budget Committee and the Commerce Subcommittees on Aviation and Science, Space, and Technology.

• Served as policy analyst for the biggest players in the aerospace field, including the Congressional Research Service, National Academy of Sciences, NASA headquarters, and Space Policy Institute.

• Conducted original space research at the University of Texas at Dallas, Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, and at the Lunar and Planetary Institute adjacent to Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Erin holds an M.A. in International Science, Technology and Public Policy from The George Washington University and a B.S. in physics from Centenary College of Louisiana.

Giving back is part of her ethos. Erin is the Washington Space Business Roundtable president and serves on the Board of Directors for the Planetary Sciences Institute, Advanced Nuclear Weapons Alliance, and National Institute for Lobbying Ethics. She served on the American Astronautical Society board and was past president of both the National Space Club and Women in Aerospace, which recognized her for her dedication to the organization’s interests.

Erin taught math and science as a Peace Corp volunteer in Cameroon, Central Africa. She leads a Girl Scout troop focused on STEM, community service, and the great outdoors. She also serves on the STEM steering committee for Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital. When not engaged in concerns beyond the atmosphere, Erin enjoys her West Virginia hideaway with her husband and two children.