I'm Adam Barton

I help space and defense companies turn technical capabilities into commercial products and services.I started my career in Silicon Valley, negotiating deals at Google, helping people discover new ideas at Pinterest, and building community and belonging at Reddit. Over time, I realized, while I loved technology and product development, I wanted to find more meaning and value in my work. That led me to pivot into space and defense tech.At Astra, I led product and design and helped develop, test, and launch rockets. At Slingshot Aerospace, I led product, design and user research and served on our management committee. I built teams creating AI agents for space operations and tracking systems that monitor objects from LEO to cislunar space.Today, I run 12o2 where I partner with the next generation of space and defense startups.I'm also pursuing graduate research at the Colorado School of Mines, where I focus on commercializing space resources and their dual use applications.When I’m not working, you can find me playing with my kids, gardening with native California plants, or scanning the skies for birds in my backyard. I also have a quiet obsession with fast cars and cutting-edge consumer tech. I live in the East Bay Area with my wife, two kids, and a dog.