Professor Spotlight: Greg Autry, USC Marshall

An MBA program’s professors are an integral part of the business school experience. That’s why rankings such as The Financial Times include faculty research and publications as a major indicator of program quality, and one of the reasons we post regular faculty spotlights. This week, we’re shining the spotlight on Greg Autry, a USC Marshall Assistant Professor of Clinical Entrepreneurship. Autry was recently appointed to President Trump’s transition team for NASA.

According to a press release from USC, as part of the NASA transition team, Greg Autry will conduct research that will inform national policy. He’ll also make recommendations for major appointments within NASA, and aid the agency in making a smooth transition as the new administration takes the reins. Autry will be joined by other transition team members including Steve Cook, the Corporate Vice President of Dynetics, and Jack Burns, an advocate for lunar-based missions.

“This is an incredible opportunity for me to contribute, provide an important Southern California perspective in the process, and collect immense amounts of data and contacts for my own research on how government policy impacts the environment in which new industries and organizations emerge,” Autry noted.

About Greg Autry

Though Autry’s work at the Marshall School centered on entrepreneurial studies—he’s taught at USC Marshall’s Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies since 2013—he has also had a focus on America’s space program. His research emphasis is New Space business, “where startup firms are commercializing space launch, spacecraft and related services.”

Autry’s focus on “New Space” began in 2003. He then became a strong advocate for Elon Musk’s SpaceX initiative and commercial space exploration. He also currently sits on the editorial board of the New Space Journal and has been published in several major news outlets. In addition, the press release stated that he “was the lead author on a report for the FAA Offices of Commercial Space Transportation” in which he analyzed the United States’ competitive advantage within the human spaceflight market.

Most recently, Autry contributed an article to Forbes, which offered a preview of how he’ll handle his role on NASA’s transition team, including his policy recommendations for America’s space program.

Space Policy 101 For Clinton and Trump

In his October 2016 pre-election Forbes op-ed, “Space Policy 101 For Clinton and Trump,” Autry highlighted strong public support of NASA (citing a 68 percent favorability rating) and emphasized Americans’ excitement over the accomplishments of SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic. He then discussed the then-candidates’ apparent disinterest in America’s space program before outlining a “bold and simple space policy statement.”

Autry outlined a six-step policy:

1. Restore U.S. leadership in manned spaceflight.
2. Wisely increase our space and science spending.
3. Support U.S. emerging commercial space firms.
4. Build an all-American space supply chain.
5. Improve our critical space infrastructure.
6. Establish a profitable space economy.

 

Within his policy steps, Autry touched on two major benefits of a strong U.S. space program: military strategic advantage and financial return. “The U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines all rely on space assets to win. When our space capabilities support autonomous systems and intimidate our opponents they reduce the likelihood of sending your sons and daughters into harm’s way.” As for dividends: “Space technologies like the Global Positioning System (GPS), remote sensing (Earth Imaging) and satellite communications each add billions to the U.S. economy annually. Space supports high-paying jobs from Florida to Alaska. Space innovations save lives, increase productivity, protect the environment and make our world more enjoyable.”

Autry also shared ideas about the future of the U.S. space program that may offer a preview of the impact he’ll aim to have at NASA. He advocated for increasing the budget by 50 percent, to $27 billion annually, and discussed the merits of working with America’s private space firms and commercial operators to help move NASA forward and build a robust space economy. Finally, he ended his article with a request to “buy and build American” and with a statement about the country’s “obligation to ensure that mankind’s future in space is defined by a freedom-loving people.”

As for USC’s response to the Greg Autry appointment, Helena Yli-Renko, Orfalea Director’s Chair in Entrepreneurship, Associate Professor of Clinical Entrepreneurship, and Director of the Greif Center, said: “Greg will provide an important Southern California perspective in the process. We are proud to have a leading space industry expert on our faculty and providing input into national policy.”

regions: Los Angeles

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