Shaping the Future of Space Exploration

Vanessa E. Wyche is the acting associate administrator of NASA and a senior advisor to NASA acting administrator Janet Petro. In her role, Wyche leads the agency’s 10 center directors as well as the mission directorate associate administrators at NASA Headquarters in Washington. She acts as the agency’s chief operating officer for more than 18,000 employees and an annual budget of more than $25 billion.

With a career spanning over three decades at NASA, Wyche has been instrumental in shaping America’s space exploration initiatives, including the Space Shuttle Campaign, International Space Station operations, and the Artemis Campaign.

Wyche earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in bioengineering from Clemson University before launching her career at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a medical device evaluator. She later transitioned to NASA, where she rose through the ranks, serving in leadership roles across space shuttle missions, payload development, and astronaut training operations. As a dedicated leader, she has focused on strategic planning, campaign execution, and fostering innovation within the agency.

A champion for mentorship and STEM education, Wyche is committed to inspiring the next generation of engineers and scientists. Her leadership continues to drive NASA’s pioneering human spaceflight campaigns, ensuring the United States remains at the forefront of space exploration.

You have had a remarkable career at NASA. What has been the biggest piece of advice you would give someone in your field that you’ve learned over the years?

One thing I would say, and this isn’t necessarily just for my field, is to find your passion—the thing that makes you excited to wake up in the morning and bring your best self to work. Once you find that, it doesn’t feel like work. Every day I come here, I’m excited to be a part of human spaceflight.

Were you always passionate about space?

Once I found it, yes! But I didn’t always know this path was available to me. Growing up, I didn’t know that working at NASA was something I could do. It wasn’t until after college that I saw the opportunity to be part of NASA. I was always passionate about learning, curiosity, and science, but once I realized I could contribute to space exploration, I knew it was a perfect fit.

Did you have any female inspirations or role models in your field?

When I arrived at Johnson Space Center, I had the incredible opportunity to meet astronauts and work on helping them succeed in their experiments. That was incredibly inspiring. However, when I was growing up and in college, I didn’t personally know any women in STEM fields as a career.

I was, however, inspired by my educators. I had science teachers who nurtured my curiosity, and one in particular encouraged me by saying, “You can do this as a career.” That was the moment I saw this as a possibility. It pushed me to major in engineering in college, and I later earned my master’s degree in bioengineering.

What was your first role in your career?

I started as a medical device evaluator at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). From there, my career led me into the space industry, where I worked as a project engineer designing experiments that help astronauts understand how microgravity affects their bodies. I loved that work—it was fascinating and rewarding.

What was it like working in the space shuttle campaign?

It was an incredible experience. I started off helping astronauts prepare their payloads for flight, working across life sciences, satellite deployment, and various experiments. I worked my way up to managing entire shuttle missions. Eventually, I transitioned into exploration planning, helping to design strategies for moon and Mars missions.

What is now known as the Artemis Campaign has been in the works for years, and I was fortunate to be involved in those early discussions—working with international partners to create a shared vision for space exploration.

What do you believe is the most important strength to have as a leader?

If I had to choose just one, I would say empowerment. A great leader empowers their team. It’s about setting a clear vision, helping your team understand the “why” behind the mission, and ensuring they have buy-in. Once that’s in place, leadership is about giving them the autonomy to execute.

You’ve accomplished so much professionally, and you’re also a wife and mother. What’s next for you?

Right now, I’m focused on continuing to contribute to the advancement of human spaceflight and all NASA’s missions. Personally, I’m always looking for ways to grow as a leader and as a person.