Lakiesha Hawkins

Lakiesha Hawkins is the Assistant Deputy Associate Administrator for the Moon to Mars (M2M) Program within the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD), located at NASA’s Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Prior to this role, Hawkins served as the Deputy Manager for the Human Landing System (HLS) Program Office at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, AL. Hawkins began her NASA career at MSFC in 2010 as a lead systems engineer for the J-2X engine fuel turbopump development and a technical expert in liquid engine component and systems development. As team lead for propulsion dynamic loads and data analysis from 2012 to 2016, she provided leadership and technical direction to the Structural and Dynamic Analysis Branch, giving day-to-day guidance in structural dynamics, system loads, rotordynamics, data acquisition and analysis, vibroacoustics, and shock.

In 2016, Hawkins accepted a detail assignment at NASA Headquarters in the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate where she developed an in-space transportation strategic plan to inform the Agency Planning Programming Budgeting and Execution 19 process. Additionally, she provided critical support to the Mars Study Capability Team, Future Capabilities Team, and NextSTEP Broad Area Announcement Team.

Hawkins returned to MSFC in 2017 as Chief of the Avionics Systems Integration Branch where she managed systems engineers leading avionics software and hardware integration for the Space Launch System. From 2018 to 2019, she served as Deputy Manager of the Habitation Systems Development Office providing program/project leadership to the Gateway Habitation Element. Since 2019, she has served as Manager of the HLS Program Office’s Program Planning and Control Office responsible for leadership of the budget, risk, schedule, governance, cyber security, and audit aspects of lander development efforts.

Hawkins holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) and a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of South Florida. She was awarded a NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal in 2017 and was honored as a Distinguished Alumni by the FAMU-Florida State University College of Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering in 2018.