Anthony “Ant” Thornton, Ph.D. is a retired aerospace engineer. He graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in aerospace engineering sciences and went to work at Sandia National Laboratories developing hypersonic weapons. He obtained his masters from Stanford University and his Ph.D. at Purdue University from the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
In 1994, Ant became Sandia’s “Jackie Robinson”, the first Black American Executive Director in Sandia’s history. In 1997, he transferred to Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development Programs in Palmdale, CA. Ant’s work at the Skunk Works earned the praise of many, and he received the Professional Achievement in Industry National 2001 Black Engineer of the Year Award. Returning to Sandia in 2005, he oversaw the nation’s nuclear weapons major environmental test facilities and rose to the position of Deputy to the Vice President. After retiring from Sandia in 2015, he worked for Universities Space Research Association as the Corporate Director of Strategy, growing the company from $100 million to $160 million in revenue over a five year period.
Dr. Thornton and his wife Glenna live in the East Mountains of Albuquerque where they are active in their local community and church. He has served on a number of Boards including the National Science Foundation Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico (UCAN) Rural Systemic Initiative to improve STEM education in the rural communities. He supports local charitable activities including the CareNet Pregnancy Center. He also spent 7 years as an officer in the Navy Reserves. In 2021 he was elected as the 1st Vice Chair of the Republican Party of Bernalillo County, the most populous county in New Mexico, and in 2022 he was the GOP nominee for Lt. Governor advocating for individual liberty and freedom.
