Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Seal of NASA
Pamela Melroy
Incumbent
Pamela Melroy
since June 21, 2021
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
StyleThe Honorable[1]
(formal)
Reports toAdministrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
SeatMary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Term lengthAt the pleasure of the President
Constituting instrument51 U.S.C. § 20111
Inaugural holderThomas Keith Glennan

The Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the second-highest-ranking official of NASA, the national space agency of the United States. Administrator of NASA is NASA's chief decision maker, responsible for providing clarity to the agency's vision and serving as a source of internal leadership within NASA. The office holder also has an important place within United States space policy.[2]

History

The longest-running (acting) Deputy Administrator was John R. Dailey, who held the post following his retirement from the United States Marine Corps.[3] The longest-running full deputy administrator was Hugh Latimer Dryden, who was the first deputy administrator.[4] William R. Graham has held the post of Deputy Administrator twice, and was the acting administrator in between,[5] as did Frederick D. Gregory.[6] Dr. Daniel Mulville served as the acting deputy administrator twice, and was acting administrator in between.[7]

The current Deputy Administrator is Pamela Melroy, who was confirmed by the Senate on June 17, 2021, and sworn in on June 21, 2021.[8]

Deputy administrators

Photograph Name Term start Term end Term length Ref(s)
Hugh L. Dryden DrydenDr. Hugh L. Dryden 1958-08-19August 19, 1958 1965-12-02December 2, 1965 26622662 days [8]
Robert C. Seamans (Left) SeamansDr. Robert C. Seamans Jr. 1965-12-21December 21, 1965 1968-01-05January 5, 1968 0745745 days [8]
Thomas O. Paine PaineDr. Thomas O. Paine 1968-03-25March 25, 1968 1969-03-20March 20, 1969 0360360 days [8]
George M. Low LowDr. George M. Low 1969-12-03December 3, 1969 1976-06-05June 5, 1976 23762376 days [8]
Alan M. Lovelace LovelaceDr. Alan M. Lovelace 1976-07-02July 2, 1976 1981-07-10July 10, 1981 18341834 days [8]
Hans Mark MarkDr. Hans Mark 1981-07-10July 10, 1981 1984-09-01September 1, 1984 11491149 days [8]
William R. Graham GrahamDr. William R. Graham 1985-11-25November 25, 1985 1985-12-04December 4, 1985 00099 days [8]
William R. Graham GrahamDr. William R. Graham 1986-05-11May 11, 1986 1986-10-01October 1, 1986 0143143 days [8]
Dale D. Myers MyersDale D. Myers 1986-10-06October 6, 1986 1989-05-13May 13, 1989 0950950 days [8]
James R. Thompson ThompsonJames R. Thompson, Jr. 1989-07-06July 6, 1989 1991-11-08November 8, 1991 0885885 days [8]
Aaron Cohen CohenAaron Cohen (acting) 1992-02-19February 19, 1992 1992-11-01November 1, 1992 0256256 days [8]
John R. Dailey DaileyJohn R. Dailey (acting) 1992-11-03November 3, 1992 1999-12-31December 31, 1999 31733173 days [8]
Daniel Mulville MulvilleDr. Daniel Mulville (acting) 2000-01-01January 1, 2000 2001-11-19November 19, 2001 0688688 days [8]
Daniel Mulville Mulville2Dr. Daniel Mulville (acting) 2001-12-21December 21, 2001 2002-08-11August 11, 2002 0233233 days [8]
Frederick D. Gregory GregoryFrederick D. Gregory 2002-08-12August 12, 2002 2005-02-20February 20, 2005 0923923 days [8]
Frederick D. Gregory Gregory2Frederick D. Gregory 2005-04-14April 14, 2005 2005-11-04November 4, 2005 0204204 days [8]
Shana Dale DaleShana Dale 2005-11-04November 4, 2005 2009-01-17January 17, 2009 11711171 days [8]
Lori Garver GarverLori Garver 2009-07-16July 17, 2009 2013-09-06September 6, 2013 1512 days [8]
Dava Newman NewmanDr. Dava Newman 2015-05-15May 15, 2015 2017-01-20January 20, 2017 616 days [8]
Lesa Roe (Acting) January 20, 2017 September 11, 2017 234 days [9]
Krista Paquin (Acting) September 11, 2017 May 2018 [8]
James Morhard October 17, 2018 January 20, 2021 826 days [8]
Pamela Melroy June 21, 2021 Present 2 years, 252 days [8]

References

  1. ^ "Models of Address and Salutation". Ita.doc.gov. Archived from the original on July 20, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  2. ^ "NASA Strategic Management Handbook". Archived from the original on 2021-05-10. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  3. ^ "General John Dailey biography". NASA. Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
  4. ^ "Hugh L. Dryden biography". NASA. Archived from the original on July 9, 2008. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
  5. ^ "William R. Graham biography". NASA. Archived from the original on July 5, 2008. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
  6. ^ "Frederick D. Gregory". NASA. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
  7. ^ "Daniel Mulville biography". NASA. Archived from the original on July 5, 2008. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "List of Administrators and Deputy Administrators of NASA". NASA. Archived from the original on May 21, 2008. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
  9. ^ Dunbar, Brian (January 8, 2015). "NASA Organization Structure". NASA. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
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