Jenn Gustetic

Ms. Gustetic is a senior executive who architects innovation systems for impact.Currently she is the Director of Early Stage Innovations and Partnerships for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. In this role she leads a portfolio of technology programs that engages diverse sources, creativity and innovation across the country, awarding more than $300M in funding annually to universities, small businesses, NASA researchers and individual innovators.  These programs include SBIR/STTR, Technology Transfer, Prizes and Challenges, NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), Center Innovation Fund, Early Career Initiative, and the Space Technology Research Grants (STRG) Program.

Previously she has served in various program executive roles at NASA HQ, as the Assistant Director for Open Innovation at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and throughout her career has led numerous communities focused on incentive prizes, citizen science, design thinking and the maker movement. She was also a founding co-chair of the Partnership for Public Service’s Innovation Council.

Outside of her government duties, she also serves on the board of trustees of the Van Alen Institute.  She was a future of work research fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School from 2017-2019, received an executive education certificate from Stanford University in Venture Capital investing, and was a founding member of the board of advisors of the National Science Policy Network.

Ms. Gustetic holds a bachelors degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in technology policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She has published numerous writings on innovation including in the MIT Press, Space Policy Journal, New Space Journal, and Issues in Science and Technology.