Janet Petro appointed acting Nasa administrator- first woman to lead agency

Janet Petro has been appointed as the acting Nasa administrator, becoming the first woman to lead the agency. The director of the Kennedy Space Center, appointed after director Bill Nelson stepped down, confirmed the appointment in a statement.
Petro expressed he gratitude in serving in this role via LinkedIn. "I'm humbled and honored to serve as acting Nasa Administrator during this transition period. In the coming days, we can expect to hear more about the priorities for Nasa under the Trump Administration," she said.
Further expanding on the core values that Nasa will focus on she added, "Nasa will continue to support and align with the policies set forth by the new administration, while remaining steadfast in our commitment to Nasa's mission and core values. This is a reminder to our NASA workforce to lean into new experiences, because when we shy away from things that challenge us, we rob ourselves of the opportunity to grow."

This leadership change comes as the new administration takes over, with President Trump promising to prioritise sending astronauts to Mars and planting an American flag on the planet during his inaugural speech.
Bill Nelson announced his departure in statement on Monday. "As I leave public office today after 53 years, thank you for the great privilege of a lifetime of serving the people of our country. I am humbled and grateful," he said. As the 14th administrator, Nelson also wrote a letter addressed to the succeeding administrator (not named in the letter), reflecting on his time and career.


Janet Petro is Nasa's acting administrator, overseeing the agency's operations, budget, and programs until a new administrator is confirmed by the US Senate. She previously served as the director of Nasa's Kennedy Space Center.
Petro has a distinguished career, holding leadership roles at Nasa, Science Applications International Corp (SAIC), and McDonnell Douglas Aerospace, where she managed defense and aerospace programs.
A graduate of West Point and a former US Army officer, she also holds a master's degree in business administration from Boston University. Her accolades include the 2022 Dr Kurt H Debus Award, the 2019 Sammies Management Excellence Medal, and induction into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame.