Dr. Makenzie Lystrup, the director of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, is set to leave the agency on Friday, August 1. In her nearly two years at the helm, Lystrup led the center’s workforce of over 8,000 civil servants and contractors.
As a seasoned expert in planetary science and astronomy, Lystrup has contributed significantly to various NASA missions, including the James Webb Space Telescope and Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer. She also played a key role in developing the agency’s Roman Space Telescope.
Lystrup comes from a background of leadership roles at Ball Corporation, where she managed new business activities for government agencies and academia. Prior to joining Ball, she worked as an American Institute of Physics fellow and served on various boards and committees for organizations such as the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.
A highly accomplished scientist with a doctorate in astrophysics from University College London, Lystrup has been recognized for her distinguished record in science policy and advocacy, aerospace leadership, and planetary science. She will be replaced by Cynthia Simmons, who is currently serving as deputy center director.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-goddard-center-director-makenzie-lystrup-set-to-depart