Fifth Gait Announces New CEO

Fifth Gait Technologies is pleased to share an important leadership update as the company enters the new year. Effective January 1, 2026, Richard Horton has stepped into the role of Chief Executive Officer, continuing Fifth Gait’s long-term vision with deep institutional knowledge and steady leadership.

Richard has been with Fifth Gait since 2015. During that time, he has helped guide and grow the company into a highly regarded industry leader in the field of nuclear and space radiation survivability.

“For the last decade, Fifth Gait has been more than a job to me. It has been my passion, and my team has been like family. I have relished every challenge as both the successes and failures have taught me what it means to be a leader,” said Horton.

For more than 30 years, Richard has supported DoD and NASA programs in aviation, space exploration, and strategic missile defense. He holds degrees in physics and aviation science, is a recent alumnus of Harvard Business School, and is a licensed commercial pilot.

“Richard has been part of this organization through many chapters, working alongside our teams as Fifth Gait grew, adapted, and took on increasingly complex challenges,” said Dr. Kathy Doughty, Board Chairman and founder of Fifth Gait. “Those shared experiences matter. They shape how leaders show up, how decisions are made, and how responsibility is carried. I am confident in his ability to guide the company in a way that reflects the values and standards on which Fifth Gait was built.”

This transition is designed to ensure that the technical rigor and collaborative approach that customers count on remain firmly in place as the company moves forward. The company’s leadership evolution is rooted in shared values, deep organizational understanding, and a commitment to the same focus and integrity on which Fifth Gait’s customers and partners rely.