Alex Gilbert
Strategic Resource Analyst | Space Nuclear Expert
Alex Gilbert is a technology strategist, regulatory architect, and thought leader at the intersection of energy, space, and national security. He specializes in nuclear innovation, natural resources, and emerging industrial technologies. Alex currently serves as Vice President of Regulation at Zeno Power and is completing a PhD in Space Resources at the Colorado School of Mines, where his research focuses on astronaut nuclear safety.
With prior experience in energy markets, regulatory design, and environmental systems, Alex has advised government agencies, private investors, and mission-driven companies on topics ranging from radioisotope power systems to frontier mining technologies. He regularly writes and speaks on the geopolitics of resource security, the commercialization of outer space, and the reindustrialization of the U.S. economy.
Alex's work has appeared in outlets including Science, Nature, Foreign Policy, The Hill, and Scientific American. He is passionate about bridging science and policy to unlock the next generation of emerging technology innovation and resource frontiers.
Long Bio
Alex Gilbert is a complex systems researcher and regulatory strategist focused on advancing the technologies and institutions that underpin American industrial leadership. His work spans nuclear energy, frontier mining, space commercialization, and regulatory architecture, with a specific focus on enabling advanced capabilities in space and austere environments.
As Vice President of Regulation at Zeno Power, Alex leads regulatory strategy and safety across space, maritime, and terrestrial applications of radioisotope power systems. He oversees licensing for nuclear facilities, while pioneering novel regulatory pathways that enable safe, rapid deployment of next-generation energy systems for both commercial and government missions.
Previously, Alex served as Project Manager at the Nuclear Innovation Alliance, where he led research and policy advocacy to accelerate the commercialization of advanced nuclear reactors. He was lead author of the U.S. Advanced Nuclear Energy Strategy, a comprehensive blueprint for restoring American leadership in nuclear markets.
Alex is also a PhD candidate in Space Resources at the Colorado School of Mines, where he integrates engineering and public policy to shape the future of space nuclear power, resource extraction, and lunar commercialization. He is a Fellow at the Payne Institute for Public Policy, where his research spans energy security, resource markets, and geopolitics. Additionally, he serves as Chief Energy Advisor to the Space Frontier Foundation on space-based solar power.
He has authored dozens of peer-reviewed publications, including work published inin Science, Nature, Energy Policy, and the Journal of Space Safety Engineering. He also teaches graduate courses on nuclear power technology, law, and regulation as Adjunct Faculty at Johns Hopkins University.
Alex holds a Master of Space Resources from the Colorado School of Mines, a Master of Energy Regulation and Law from Vermont Law School, and a B.A. in Environmental Studies and International Relations from Lake Forest College.