Top AI Execs to Watch in 2025

Debra Emmons

Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, The Aerospace Corp.

During the past year, Debra Emmons and her team successfully integrated AI and machine learning into mission-critical workflows for national security space. They facilitated a groundbreaking hackathon with Microsoft to demonstrate virtual assistant capabilities using Azure OpenAI, ensuring secure implementation for government environments.

Additionally, they launched Solution Accelerator, a pioneering initiative that streamlines rapid, mission-ready solutions for defense, civil and commercial space customers ⏤ many of the advanced concepts are integrating AI. These efforts have positioned The Aerospace Corp. at the forefront of AI-driven space innovation, accelerating mission success across various domains.

Why Watch

In 2025, Emmons is leading efforts to expand AI’s role in decision-making and predictive analytics to enhance mission resilience and operational efficiency. Her team’s efforts include developing generative AI techniques for anomaly detection in live telemetry data, integrating retrieval-augmented generation for document analysis, and advancing reinforcement learning for autonomous spacecraft operations.

She is driving space innovation by deploying AI responsibly and effectively. Her work turns AI from theory into practical tools that deliver real-world mission success for government and commercial partners.

“I truly feel excited and challenged every day working with some of the smartest minds in the space industry,” Emmons said. “As CTO, my passion lies in advancing cutting-edge research and ensuring our innovations don’t just stay in the lab but transition to solving our customers’ hardest problems. Leadership, to me, is about shaping strategic direction, fostering collaboration, and empowering teams to push the boundaries of what’s possible.”

Fun fact: Emmons is deeply committed to leadership development and helping teams reach their full potential. She spent years refining her approach by studying leadership philosophies and strategies, always seeking new ways to improve collaboration and performance. Comparing her role to an orchestra conductor, she excels at bringing together diverse expertise to solve complex challenges in aerospace and AI.