Kathy Lueders

Kathryn Lueders serves as the associate administrator (AA) of the Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD) at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As SOMD AA, Lueders oversees the International Space Station (ISS), Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN), Launch Services (LSP), and commercial cargo and crew support with a primary focus on low-Earth orbit (LEO) destinations and building a LEO Commercial Economy (CSD). Prior to her selection for this role, Lueders served as the AA for NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) managing the agency’s full human spaceflight portfolio during her 15-month term. Since 2014, Lueders has directed NASA’s efforts to send astronauts to space on private spacecraft, which culminated in the successful launch of NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station, launching from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30, 2020. Lueders has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of New Mexico and a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from New Mexico State University. Ms. Lueders received numerous NASA achievement, honor, and performance awards, including the NASA Superior Achievement Award, the Space Flight Awareness Award, the prestigious (2018) Distinguished Presidential Rank Award and Distinguished Service Medal.