Alan Ladwig

Please see more about Alan here:  https://toorbitproductions.com/about-me

Alan has been recognized for his leadership and contributions in the field of policy, communications, and STEAM education in the aerospace sector. He is especially known for playing a leading role in developing and managing programs to directly engage the general public in space research and space-related outreach opportunities.

He is Chief of To Orbit Productions, an independent company that provides consulting services and lectures on space policy as well the creation of art projects based on space themes. Ladwig is also serving as the Chief of Communications and a member of the Board of Directors of the Star Harbor Space Training Academy, a startup company with plans to offer astronaut training for the general public.

He served three terms at NASA Headquarters – twice as a political appointee and once as a civil servant. In 2013 he retired as a political appointee of the Obama Administration where he served as the head of Public Outreach. During the Clinton Administration Ladwig established and was Associate Administrator of the Office of Policy and Plans. From 1981 to 1989 he was a civil servant and managed a variety of programs for the Office of Education, the Office of Space Flight and the Office of Exploration. He managed both the Shuttle Student Involvement Program and the Spaceflight Participant Program. 

Prior to returning to NASA in 2009 he was the Manager of Space Systems for WBB Consulting and had been Sector Lead Executive for NASA business development at Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems. He served as Chief Operating Officer during the start-up phase of the Zero Gravity Corporation, a privately held space tourism and entertainment company. As Vice President of Washington Operations and Assistant to the Chairman of the Board, he established and managed Space.com’s Washington Bureau and was responsible for business development, NASA relations, strategic planning, and authored stories for the web and “Are We There Yet?” an opinion column for Space Illustrated magazine. 

During his career Ladwig received NASA’s Distinguished Service Medal, the Exceptional Achievement Medal, two Exceptional Service Medals, the Outstanding Leadership Medal, and was a member of six Group Achievement Awards. He is a Fellow of the American Astronautical Society. In 2014 Ladwig received the Distinguish Alumni Award for both Elgin Community College and the Illinois Community College Trustees Association.

He served in U.S. Army with the 558th Artillery Group, stationed in Athens, Greece from 1972-1974. Ladwig received a Masters in Higher Education (1976) and Bachelors in Speech (1970) from Southern Illinois University. He received an Associates degree in Business from Elgin Community College (1968).