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Casey Dreier is Chief of Space Policy at The Planetary Society, where he leads the organization's policy and advocacy efforts to advance science-driven space exploration.
Casey is among the world's foremost experts on NASA's budget, the political dynamics of space exploration, and the history and political economy of space development. He provides informed, independent analysis and perspective on the politics of space exploration in the United States.
Using custom-designed data pipelines and strategically leveraging modern AI tools, he assembles unique datasets that serve as authoritative references for journalists, policymakers, and researchers. He maintains The Planetary Society's data dashboards that track the economic impact of NASA's science program, curates historical datasets on NASA and planetary science funding, and has published original peer-reviewed research. In 2025, his data-driven policy work earned him a SpaceNews Icon Award for individual achievement.
Casey is a trusted source for journalists and policymakers, with his work cited in The New York Times, POLITICO, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Ars Technica, The Economist, and NPR. He has provided on-screen commentary for CNN, ABC News, BBC News, and National Geographic's MARS series. And his published essays, published in places such as The New York Times, Scientific American, and The Space Review, reach general and expert audiences alike.
He also publishes The Space Advocate, a monthly newsletter on space policy read by more than 30,000 subscribers, and hosts the long-running podcast Planetary Radio: Space Policy Edition.
Casey holds a degree in Physics with a concentration in Astronomy from Oberlin College.
You can contact Casey via email at: [email protected].
Latest Articles
The Save NASA Science Day of Action drew nearly 300 people from across the United States to Washington, D.C., to promote space science and exploration.
In a milestone that reflects our expanding advocacy and outreach presence in Washington, D.C., Ari Koeppel will join The Planetary Society as the organization's first AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow.
NASA's science budget is under threat. Here's what that could mean to the human endeavor of exploration.
Latest Planetary Radio Appearances
Chief of Space Policy Casey Dreier and Director of Government Relations Jack Kiraly break down what NASA authorization bills actually do and why these laws matter for long-term U.S. space policy, from science missions to human spaceflight and planetary defense.
After DOGE cuts, mass staff departures, and a blink-and-you-missed-it pivot to Mars, how much did NASA actually change in 2025? Space Policy Online founder Marcia Smith returns to assess a turbulent year.
As NASA faces unprecedented proposed cuts to its science programs, Planetary Radio looks back at a pivotal year for U.S. space policy and advocacy. The Planetary Society’s space policy team unpacks what happened, why funding uncertainty matters, and what comes next for space science.