Clayton Turner serves as the Associate Administrator for NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), providing executive leadership and strategic oversight for the agency's portfolio of technology maturation and demonstration programs. With a distinguished career at NASA spanning over three decades, he is dedicated to advancing the critical technologies that enable current missions and shape the future of space exploration.

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Prior to his current appointment, Turner was the Director of NASA’s Langley Research Center from 2019 to 2024. He began his journey with the agency in 1990 as a design engineer after graduating from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Throughout his tenure, he has held numerous key positions, including Chief Engineer and Deputy Center Director, and has contributed to pivotal projects such as the Mars Science Laboratory and the Orion Launch Abort System.

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A recipient of the Presidential Rank Award and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, Turner is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He is also committed to fostering the next generation of innovators, serving on the RIT Board of Trustees and actively promoting STEM education through community outreach.