member

The NASA Ames Laboratory for Advanced Sensing (LAS)

Dr. Ved Chirayath directs the Laboratory for Advanced Sensing (LAS) in the Earth Science Division at NASA Ames Silicon Valley. His research is directed at inventing next-generation advanced sensing technologies for NASA's Earth Science Program to better understand the natural world around us, extending our capabilities for studying life in extreme environments on Earth, and searching for life elsewhere in the universe. He leads a multi-disciplinary team developing new instrumentation for airborne and spaceborne remote sensing, validates instrumentation through scientific field campaigns around the world, and develops machine learning algorithms to process big data on NASA’s supercomputing facility. Dr. Chirayath invented the fluid lensing algorithm and is PI of the NASA FluidCam instrument

Administrator Jim Bridenstine

James Frederick “Jim” Bridenstine was nominated by President Donald Trump, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and sworn in as NASA’s 13th administrator on April 23, 2018. Bridenstine was elected in 2012 to represent Oklahoma’s First Congressional District. In Congress he served on the Armed Services Committee and the Science, Space and Technology Committee. Bridenstine’s career in federal service began in the U.S. Navy, flying the E-2C Hawkeye off the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier.

Deputy Administrator Jim Morhard

James W. Morhard was nominated by President Trump and confirmed to be NASA’s 14th Deputy Administrator. He was sworn in on October 17th, 2018.

Cathy H. Mangum, Acting Deputy Associate Administrator

Cathy H. Mangum is NASA’s acting deputy associate administrator, a role she began in February 2020. Previously, she served as the associate director at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. As associate director she served as the chief operating officer managing day-to-day operations with a focus on center commitments.

Thomas E. Cremins

Tom Cremins became the Associate Administrator for Strategy and Plans in November 2015, and since April 2018 has also served as NASA's acting chief of staff. He had served as senior advisor to the administrator for strategy and policy implementation since April 2014. Before that, he worked in a range of critical and leading edge governmental and executive assignments. His most recent position previously was serving as the director, legislative liaison division, at NASA Headquarters. Between September 2008 and December 2010, he served as the director, studies and analysis division in the NASA administrator’s office.

Dr.Patricia Sanders

Dr. Patricia Sanders is now an independent aerospace consultant after having been a Senior Executive with the Department of Defense (DOD) and retiring from the Federal Government after 34 years of service with experience in the management of complex technical programs, leadership of large and diverse organizations, and development and execution of policy at the DOD level.

Paul K.Martin

Paul K. Martin was confirmed by the United States Senate as NASA Inspector General on Nov. 20, 2009. Prior to his NASA appointment, Martin served as the Deputy Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General (OIG). In that capacity, he assisted the Inspector General in managing the audit, inspection and investigative activities of the office's 425 employees. From 2001 to 2003, he served as Counselor to the Inspector General, and from 1998 to 2001 he served as Special Counsel to the Inspector General.

Alexander MacDonald

Alexander MacDonald is the Chief Economist at NASA. He was previously the Senior Economic Advisor in the Office of the Administrator and was the founding program executive of NASA's Emerging Space Office within the Office of the Chief Technologist. He is the author and editor of a number of NASA reports including Emerging Space: The Evolving Landscape of 21st Century American Spaceflight, Public-Private Partnerships for Space Capability Development, and Economic Development of Low-Earth Orbit. He is also a former executive staff specialist on commercial space at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a former research faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University, and has worked for the Universities Space Research Association while at NASA’s Ames Research Center where he worked on small satellite mission designs and served as the center's first research economist.

Ralph R.Roe

Ralph R. Roe, Jr., began his career at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in 1983, serving initially as a Propulsion Systems Test Engineer. Mr. Roe served in multiple leadership roles in Space Shuttle Engineering before being named Space Shuttle Engineering Director in October 1996, with responsibility for the engineering management and technical expertise of personnel involved in prelaunch, landing, recovery and turnaround operations for the Space Shuttle fleet. Mr. Roe then served as the Space Shuttle Launch Director for four missions including John Glenn’s return to space and the first International Space Station flight. Next Mr. Roe served as Manager of the Space Shuttle Vehicle Engineering Office at the NASA Johnson Space Center where he was responsible for the Orbiter fleet, flight software, flight crew equipment and robotic arm from August 1999 to August 2003.

Melanie Saunders

Melanie Saunders is NASA’s acting chief financial officer, a role she began in February 2020. Previously, she served as NASA’s deputy associate administrator, assisting the NASA administrator and senior managers in implementing all aspects of the agency’s functions, policy, and integration of programs. She chairs the NASA Mission Support Council (MSC), which serves as the Agency’s senior decision-making body regarding the integrated Agency mission support portfolio.

Dr. Eugene L. Tu is the center director at NASA's Ames Research Center, where he leads a staff of civil servants and contractors in providing critical research that makes space missions possible.

Eugene Tu

Center Director

David D. McBride is director of NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards, California. He oversees all aspects of management, strategy and operations at NASA Armstrong, one of the agency's 10 field centers.

David D. McBride

Center Director

He previously served as the deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. During his time as deputy associate administrator, innovative observing systems were flown, made possible by new research and technology.

Dennis Andrucyk

Center Director

Mark S. Geyer is the 12th director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, a position he assumed on May 25, 2018. In this role, Geyer leads a workforce of approximately 10,000 civil servant.

Mark S. Geyer

JSC Director

Robert D. Cabana is a former NASA astronaut, currently serving as director of NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In his current role, Cabana manages all NASA facilities.

Robert D. Cabana

Director

Richard J. Gilbrech serves as director of NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, MS, since his appointment to the position in 2012. As director, he provides executive leadership, overall direction and management of the center. He is responsible for implementing NASA.

Richard J.Gilbrech

Center Director

Calvin F. Williams

Assistant Administrator

Jay M. Henn

Executive Director

Bettina Inclán

Associate Administrator

Sumara M.Thompson-King

the chief legal officer

Member

The NASA Ames Laboratory for Advanced Sensing (LAS)

Administrator Jim Bridenstine

Deputy Administrator Jim Morhard

Cathy H. Mangum, Acting Deputy Associate Administrator

Thomas E. Cremins

Alexander MacDonald

Eugene Tu

David D. McBride

Dennis Andrucyk

Mark S. Geyer

Robert D. Cabana

Richard J.Gilbrech

Calvin F. Williams

Jay M. Henn

Bettina Inclán

Sumara M.Thompson-King