Griffin Cleverly is an American aerospace engineer who designs spacecraft, satellites and aircraft systems. Most people first hear his name as Bridgit Mendler’s husband, but his own career is worth following too. He co-founded Northwood Space, a satellite communication startup, and serves as its CTO. He has built that company alongside a quiet private life with his wife and their adopted son.
Biography Table
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Griffin Cleverly |
| Nickname | Griff |
| Date of Birth | January 22, 1991 |
| Place of Birth | Reston, Virginia, USA |
| Age | 35 years (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Profession/Occupation | Aerospace and Mechanical Engineer, Co-founder and CTO of Northwood Space |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree from UCLA; Master’s from Johns Hopkins University (Whiting School of Engineering) |
| Genre/Field | Aerospace Engineering, Satellite Communication, Space Entrepreneurship |
| Spouse/Partner | Bridgit Mendler (married October 2019) |
| Children | One adopted son |
| Parents | Philip Cleverly and Keri Kozlowski Cleverly |
| Siblings | 3 |
| Net Worth | Estimated $1–5 million |
| Height | 5’9″ (176 cm) |
| Weight | 70 kg (154 lbs) |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Notable Works | Co-founding Northwood Space |
Who Is Griffin Cleverly?
Griffin Cleverly is a mechanical engineer who works on spacecraft, satellites and aircraft. He has worked with several major US institutions in the aerospace and defense sector. His current role is Chief Technology Officer at Northwood Space, the company he co-founded with his wife.
The public knows him mostly through his marriage to Bridgit Mendler, the singer, songwriter and former Disney actress who starred in Good Luck Charlie. He has never tried to build a celebrity profile of his own. His work is technical and mostly happens out of the spotlight.
I have written about many celebrity spouses, and Griffin is an unusual case. Most partners of famous people stay famous only by association. Griffin is now known in the space industry on his own terms, and his wife is a co-founder with him rather than the reason for his visibility.
This makes him relevant to two very different audiences. Fans of Bridgit want to know about the man she married. People in the space and tech world want to know about the engineer behind Northwood’s ground network.
Griffin Cleverly Age and Early Life
Griffin Cleverly is 35 years old as of 2026. He was born on January 22, 1991, in Reston, Virginia, which makes his zodiac sign Aquarius. Some websites list his birth date as January 23, 1992, but the strongest evidence points to 1991.
That evidence comes from Bridgit herself. In January 2021, she posted a “Happy 30th” Instagram tribute for his 30th birthday, and she affectionately called him a wild person in it. A 30th birthday in 2021 matches a January 1991 birth date, not 1992.
Griffin was born in Virginia, but he did much of his growing up in California, around the LA area. That West Coast upbringing later led him to study at UCLA. It also explains why he and Bridgit now base their life and company in California.
Family Background
Griffin’s parents are Philip Cleverly and Keri Kozlowski Cleverly. He grew up in a family of four children, so he has three siblings. The family has kept a low profile, and very little about them appears in the press.
From what is publicly known, his siblings have built careers in different fields. Their paths include database engineering, art direction, marketing and finance. One sibling earned an MBA from UVA Darden, and another studied psychology at CSU Channel Islands.
This mix of technical and creative work in the family is a useful detail. Griffin is clearly the engineer, but he grew up around people who think in both logic and design. That balance shows up in how he talks about building hardware that is practical and buildable at scale.
Griffin Cleverly Education
Griffin earned his bachelor’s degree from UCLA, where he graduated in engineering. UCLA has a strong aerospace and engineering program, and many students from there go on to work with defense and space contractors. Griffin followed that path.
He then completed a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at Johns Hopkins University’s Whiting School of Engineering in 2014. Johns Hopkins is based in Maryland, close to many major defense and aerospace employers. That location shaped the early part of his career.
His studies also included electrical and computer engineering coursework. This is important for his later work. Satellite communication is not only a mechanical problem. It needs electronics, signal processing and software working together, and Griffin’s training covers all three areas.
Griffin Cleverly Career
Griffin Cleverly’s career is built around aerospace hardware. Before Northwood Space, he worked as a mechanical engineer on spacecraft, satellites, launch vehicle components and aircraft systems. He moved between established companies, research groups and smaller startups.
His early roles were in the Maryland and Virginia area, where much of the US aerospace and defense industry is located. He worked in research, design and proposal engineering. These jobs taught him how large space projects are planned, priced and built.
He later connected with the MIT Space Initiative. That link is worth noting, because Bridgit was also studying at MIT at the time. Their shared ties to MIT helped bring their interests in technology and space together.
From an expert point of view, his path makes sense for a CTO. Founders who have worked inside big contractors understand how slow and costly traditional space hardware can be. That experience often drives the idea behind a startup that wants to do it faster and cheaper.
Career Timeline
| Organization | Role / Focus |
|---|---|
| Babcock Power | Research Associate |
| Lockheed Martin (Bethesda, Maryland) | Engineering work on aerospace systems |
| MITRE | Engineer (2014–2016) |
| Space Vendor Corporation | Design and proposal engineering for spacecraft |
| Magzor Corporation | Technical leadership role |
| MIT Space Initiative | Space research involvement |
| Northwood Space | Co-founder and CTO |
Northwood Space: The Company Griffin Co-Founded With Bridgit
Northwood Space is a satellite communication company that Griffin co-founded with Bridgit Mendler and engineer Shaurya Luthra. Bridgit is the CEO, and Griffin is the CTO. The company builds ground stations that connect satellites in orbit to Earth.
The idea started around 2020, during COVID. Griffin and Bridgit began building a homemade prototype antenna together. Bridgit has described it as something like a romantic science project between the two of them. That small home experiment slowly became a real business.
Northwood’s goal is simple to explain. More satellites are being launched every year, but the ground network that receives their data has not kept up. Northwood wants to mass-produce ground stations, sometimes called teleports, to create a kind of data highway between space and Earth.
The company has raised serious money from investors, including a round of about $30 million. It now has offices in California. The founders were featured on NBC’s Today show, where correspondent Gadi Schwartz reported on their story in a segment that aired on May 15.
As someone who follows startup coverage, I find this the most interesting part of Griffin’s story. Many celebrity-linked businesses are about fashion or beauty. Northwood works in deep tech, one of the hardest areas to build in, and it was started by an engineer and a former Disney star.
Bridgit Mendler and Griffin Cleverly: Relationship Timeline
Bridgit Mendler and Griffin Cleverly began dating around 2017. They kept the relationship mostly private, but it became public in early 2017 through Instagram. They dated for about two years before getting engaged.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Started dating; relationship goes public |
| April 2019 | Engagement announced |
| October 2019 | Beach wedding |
| 2020 | Homemade antenna project begins |
| 2021 | Begin fostering their son |
| 2022 | Adoption announced publicly |
How They Met
The exact story of how they met is not fully clear. Most reports say they were introduced through a mutual friend. Neither of them has shared a detailed public account of their first meeting.
What is clear is that their shared interest in technology played a big part. Bridgit was moving from entertainment into academic study at MIT, and Griffin was building his career in aerospace. They had more in common than most people would expect from a singer and an engineer.
The Engagement
The couple announced their engagement in April 2019 with a beach photo on Instagram. Bridgit showed off her ring and wrote a warm caption about Griffin. She called him her challenger, her cheerleader and her companion.
She also described him as both a deep thinker and a big goof. That mix of words tells fans a lot about how she sees him. The news excited her fan base, especially longtime Good Luck Charlie viewers.
The Beach Wedding
Bridgit and Griffin married in October 2019 in an intimate beach ceremony. Only close family and friends attended. They said their vows at sunset, which gave the day a calm and magical feel.
Bridgit wore a spaghetti-strap A-line gown with a tulle skirt and a long veil. Griffin wore a black suit with a red tie. She shared just one photo afterward and joked about the wild love between two strangers who met and decided to spend their lives together.
The wedding was reported by Extra and other outlets. Even so, the couple kept details limited. That small, private choice set the tone for how they have handled their marriage ever since.
Married Life and Privacy
Griffin and Bridgit live a private life in California. Griffin is shy about public attention and rarely posts on social media. He almost never appears at Hollywood events, even though his wife spent years in the entertainment industry.
Bridgit has stepped back from the spotlight too. She left full-time acting and music around 2016 to focus on her education. Since then, she shares only small pieces of their life, usually on special occasions like birthdays or big family news.
This privacy is a choice that works for them. In my view, it is one reason their marriage gets so little gossip coverage. When a couple gives the media very little to work with, most of the attention goes to their work instead.
Their Son: Fostering and Adoption
Griffin and Bridgit are parents to a son they adopted through foster care. They began fostering the 4-year-old boy in 2021. After about a year of fostering, they made the adoption official.
Bridgit shared the news on X in 2022. She posted a beach sunset photo and explained that they had been fostering him for a year. She described parenthood as the biggest gift in her life.
Fans responded with a lot of support. Many praised the couple for choosing foster care, which is a path that does not get much attention in celebrity families. Bridgit has called herself a proud mom and has shared that motherhood changed how she thinks about time and priorities.
The couple keeps their son’s name and face out of public view. That fits their wider approach to privacy. They share the milestone, but not the child’s personal life.
Is Griffin Cleverly in Good Luck Charlie?
No, Griffin Cleverly was never in Good Luck Charlie. He is an engineer, not an actor. The Disney Channel show starred his wife, Bridgit Mendler, as Teddy Duncan, and it ran long before the two of them met.
People search for “Griffin Cleverly Good Luck Charlie” mainly because of the show’s connection to his marriage. When Bridgit announced her engagement in 2019, many former cast members reacted online to celebrate with her. That moment linked his name to the show in fans’ minds.
The Good Luck Charlie cast has stayed close over the years, and cast reunions often make news. Griffin has simply been part of Bridgit’s life during some of those moments. He has no acting role or credit on the series.
Griffin Cleverly Movies and TV Shows
Griffin Cleverly does not have any movies or TV shows to his name. He has never worked as an actor or entertainer. Searches for “Griffin Cleverly movies and TV shows” usually come from people mixing up his career with his wife’s.
His only real TV exposure has come through news coverage of Northwood Space. The NBC Today show feature with Gadi Schwartz is the best example. In that segment, he appeared as a founder and engineer talking about the company’s ground stations.
If you are looking for acting credits connected to him, the filmography you want is Bridgit’s. Her work in Disney films and TV series is what most people remember, and it is covered in the next section.
Who Is Griffin Cleverly’s Wife? (Bridgit Mendler)
Griffin Cleverly’s wife is Bridgit Mendler, an American actress, singer and songwriter. She became famous as a Disney star, then left entertainment to pursue higher education. Today, she is the CEO of Northwood Space.
Her acting career started early. She voiced a role in The Legend of Buddha in 2004. She later played Juliet in Wizards of Waverly Place and Teddy in Good Luck Charlie, the role that made her a household name.
Her music career was also strong. Her debut album Hello My Name Is… came out in 2012, and her single “Ready or Not” reached the Billboard Hot 100. “Hurricane” became another fan favorite.
Her academic record is just as impressive. She earned a degree in anthropology from USC, then completed an M.S. at the MIT Media Lab. She went on to earn a J.D. from Harvard Law while also pursuing a PhD at MIT.
| Year | Title | Role / Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | The Legend of Buddha | Voice role |
| 2009–2010 | Wizards of Waverly Place | Juliet |
| 2010–2014 | Good Luck Charlie | Teddy Duncan |
| 2011 | Lemonade Mouth | Olivia |
| 2014–2016 | Undateable | Candace (two seasons) |
| 2018 | Father of the Year | Netflix film |
| 2019 | Merry Happy Whatever | Netflix series |
Griffin’s Personality and Hobbies
Griffin is known as a deep thinker with a goofy side. Bridgit has described him in exactly those terms. He is serious about his work and makes considered decisions, but he also brings fun into everyday life.
That balance seems to matter in their partnership. Running a startup together is stressful, and two serious people can burn out fast. A partner who can be both focused and playful helps keep things steady.
Outside work, Griffin enjoys coding, horse riding and camping. These interests fit him well. Coding connects to his engineering work, while riding and camping get him outdoors and away from screens.
He also shares Bridgit’s outlook on balance. She has posted about learning when to say yes and when to say no, especially after their adoption news. For a couple building a company and raising a child, that kind of discipline is essential.
Griffin Cleverly Height and Physical Appearance
Griffin Cleverly stands about 5’9″ tall, which is roughly 176 cm. He weighs around 70 kg, or about 154 lbs. He has a fit, average build.
He has brown hair and blue eyes. In most public photos, he has a clean, simple look, often seen in casual outfits or plain suits.
Some websites list different height and weight figures for him. Those numbers are not reliable. The 5’9″ and 70 kg figures are the ones most consistently reported.
Griffin Cleverly Net Worth
Griffin Cleverly’s net worth is estimated at around $1–5 million. This estimate is based on his engineering career and his co-founder stake in Northwood Space. Older sources put his net worth at about $300K, but those figures do not reflect his startup role.
His income for most of his career came from engineering salaries in aerospace and defense. Those jobs pay well, but they rarely make someone wealthy. The bigger change came with Northwood Space.
Northwood has raised tens of millions of dollars, including a round of about $30 million. Raised money belongs to the company, not to Griffin personally. Still, his equity as a co-founder could be worth much more if the company keeps growing.
Keep in mind that every net worth figure for him is an estimate. He has never shared his finances publicly. The real number depends heavily on how Northwood is valued in the coming years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Griffin Cleverly?
Griffin Cleverly is 35 years old as of 2026. He was born on January 22, 1991, in Reston, Virginia. Bridgit Mendler’s “Happy 30th” post in January 2021 supports this birth year.
What does Griffin Cleverly do for a living?
Griffin Cleverly is an aerospace and mechanical engineer. He designs systems for spacecraft, satellites and aircraft. He is currently the CTO of Northwood Space, a satellite communication company.
When did Bridgit Mendler and Griffin Cleverly get married?
Bridgit Mendler and Griffin Cleverly married in October 2019. They held a small beach wedding at sunset with close family and friends, about six months after their April 2019 engagement.
Does Griffin Cleverly have children?
Yes, Griffin and Bridgit have one son. They fostered him from 2021 when he was 4 years old and later adopted him. They keep his name and identity private.
Is Griffin Cleverly an actor?
No, Griffin Cleverly is not an actor and has no movies or TV credits. His only TV appearances are news features about Northwood Space, such as his segment on NBC’s Today show.
What is Griffin Cleverly’s net worth?
Griffin Cleverly’s net worth is estimated at $1–5 million. Most of his wealth comes from his engineering career and his co-founder stake in Northwood Space.
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