Amanda Hooten is the Founder and CEO of Blaze Solutions, a Huntsville-based leadership and government services firm supporting defense, technology, and professional services organizations. With more than 15 years of experience leading complex defense programs and scaling high-growth organizations, she previously served as Chief Strategy Officer at Invariant Corporation and held senior leadership roles at Dynetics. Amanda is recognized across North Alabama for advancing leadership development and mission-driven culture in the region’s technology ecosystem. She holds an MBA from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

What do you love most about living and working in Huntsville?

Huntsville has an incredible mix of innovation and community—brilliant people working on complex problems who are still genuinely willing to collaborate. I especially love the strong network of women leaders here who actively support and champion one another’s success.

What advice would you give your 22-year-old self?

Don’t wait for permission to lead. Growth rarely feels comfortable, but leaning into that discomfort is often where the biggest opportunities live.

What motivates you on hard days?

Mission and people. When the work matters and others are counting on you, it’s easier to push through the tough moments.

How do you like to spend your time outside of work?

I love spending time with my family and traveling whenever I can, especially exploring new places overseas and experiencing different cultures. Travel has a way of broadening your perspective and reminding you how big—and connected—the world really is.

How do you like to give back to the community, and why is it important to you?

Mentorship and leadership development are the biggest ways I give back. Huntsville has opened many doors for me, and I believe strongly in helping create those same opportunities for the next generation of leaders.

What’s your “why don’t we have this yet?” business idea for Huntsville?

I’d love to tell you, but we might already be working on a five-year plan at Blaze to build it ourselves. One of the things I love about Huntsville is that when you see an opportunity here, you can actually go create it.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career, and what valuable lesson did they teach you?

Mark Chambliss, my supervisor at Dynetics, had a lasting impact on my career. He demonstrated what servant leadership looks like in the technical world—leaders exist to remove obstacles, support their teams, and keep the mission first.