Pam Melroy

Col. (USAF, ret) Pam Melroy served as the NASA deputy administrator from June 21, 2021 through January 20, 2025. 

As deputy administrator, Melroy performed the duties and exercises the powers delegated by the administrator, assisted the administrator in making final agency decisions, and acted for the administrator in his absence by performing all necessary functions to govern NASA operations.

Melroy was also responsible for laying out the agency’s vision and representing NASA to the Executive Office of the President, Congress, heads of federal and other appropriate government agencies, international organizations, and external organizations and communities. As deputy administrator, she led the development of transformative, agency-level strategies that established constancy of purpose for the NASA’s bold endeavors. Among the hallmark strategies she championed were the agency’s Moon to Mars strategy, Space Sustainability strategy, Low Earth Orbit Microgravity strategy, and NASA 2040. Each of these groundbreaking strategies set a visionary course for the agency’s future.  

Additionally, she served as NASA’s chief acquisition officer, improving processes to steward agency resources wisely. She prioritized innovation and rigor in acquisitions, leading to new offices that enhance capabilities and promote innovation. She improved acquisition data quality, expanded access to NASA grants, and strengthened the agency’s program management and risk management frameworks by forming a tiger team and appointing both an agency chief program management officer and an agency risk management officer. She also advanced strategies to increase contract awards for small, disadvantaged businesses and supported NASA’s acquisition workforce by fostering engagement, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making. 

Melroy was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program in 1983. As a co-pilot, aircraft commander, instructor pilot, and test pilot, Melroy logged more than 6,000 flight hours in more than 50 different aircraft before retiring from the Air Force in 2007. She is a veteran of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Operation Just Cause, with more than 200 combat and combat support hours.

Melroy was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in December 1994. Initially assigned to astronaut support duties for launch and landing, she also worked on advanced projects for the Astronaut Office. She also performed Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) duties in mission control. In addition, she served on the Columbia Reconstruction Team as the lead for the crew module and served as Deputy Project Manager for the Columbia Crew Survival Investigation Team. In her final position, she served as Branch Chief for the Orion branch of the Astronaut Office.

One of only two women to command a space shuttle, Melroy logged more than 38 days (924 hours) in space. She served as pilot on two flights, STS-92 in 2000 and STS-112 in 2002, and was the mission commander on STS-120 in 2007. All three of her missions were assembly missions to build the International Space Station.

After serving more than two decades in the Air Force and as a NASA astronaut, Melroy took on a number of leadership roles, including at Lockheed Martin, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Nova Systems Pty, Australia, and as an advisor to the Australian Space Agency. She also served as an independent consultant and a member of the National Space Council’s Users Advisory Group.

Melroy holds a bachelor’s degree in physics and astronomy from Wellesley College and a master’s degree in Earth and planetary sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.