Gwynne Shotwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gwynne Shotwell
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Shotwell in August 2018
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Gwynne Rowley
November 23, 1963 Evanston, Illinois, U.S.
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| Education | Northwestern University (BS, MS) |
| Title | President and chief operating officer of SpaceX |
| Spouse(s) | Leon Gurevich (div.) Robert Shotwell |
| Children | 2 |
Gwynne Shotwell (born November 23, 1963) is an American businesswoman and engineer. She is the president and chief operating officer of SpaceX. SpaceX is a company that builds rockets and spacecraft.
Gwynne is in charge of the daily operations at SpaceX. She also helps the company grow. In 2023, Forbes magazine named her one of the most powerful women in the world. Time magazine also listed her as one of the 100 most influential people in 2020.
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Early Life and Education
Gwynne Shotwell was born in Evanston, Illinois. She grew up in Libertyville, Illinois, with her two sisters. Her father was a brain surgeon and her mother was an artist.
When she was six, she watched the Apollo 11 mission on TV. But at that time, she wasn't very interested in space. In high school, Gwynne was good at both schoolwork and sports. She was on the cheerleading and basketball teams.
Her interest in engineering started in high school. Her mother took her to an event for women engineers. There, a mechanical engineer inspired Gwynne. She decided to become an engineer too. She then went to Northwestern University. She earned a degree in mechanical engineering. Later, she got another degree in applied mathematics.
Gwynne Shotwell's Career Journey
Gwynne Shotwell started her career in the automotive industry. She worked at Chrysler Corporation. She enjoyed it at first, but later decided to go back to school.
In 1988, she joined The Aerospace Corporation. This company does technical work for military space projects. She worked there for ten years. She focused on how heat affects spacecraft. She also managed space system projects.
After that, she worked at Microcosm Inc. It was a small rocket company. She was in charge of finding new business opportunities there.
Joining SpaceX: A New Frontier
In 2002, Gwynne left Microcosm to join SpaceX. Elon Musk founded SpaceX in the same year. Gwynne was introduced to Elon Musk by a former colleague. She convinced him that SpaceX needed someone to focus on business growth. Two weeks later, she took the job herself.
In 2008, Gwynne became the president of SpaceX. This happened after she helped get a big contract with NASA. This contract was for resupplying the International Space Station. It came after SpaceX's first successful launch of the Falcon 1 rocket.
Gwynne helped SpaceX get over 50 rocket launches planned. This brought in billions of dollars for the company. She manages all customer relationships. She also helps the company grow its business.
Under her leadership, SpaceX achieved many "firsts":
- The first time an orbital rocket's main part landed back on Earth.
- The first time a used orbital rocket was relaunched and landed again.
- The first time a rocket's nose cone was recovered after launch.
- The first time a commercial cargo spacecraft was re-flown.
SpaceX also has a contract with NASA to send astronauts and science tools to the International Space Station. On May 30, 2020, SpaceX made history. It became the first private company to launch astronauts into Earth's orbit.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has praised Gwynne's leadership. He said she made the Falcon 9 rocket a "workhorse" for space launches. He felt confident in her leadership after Elon Musk bought Twitter.
Starlink Satellite Services
Starlink is a satellite internet service provided by SpaceX. It uses many satellites in orbit to provide internet access.
Starlink in Ukraine
After the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Gwynne helped provide Starlink services to Ukraine. At first, SpaceX donated these services. Later, the U.S. Department of Defense bought Starlink services for Ukraine.
Gwynne stated that Starlink was meant for communication and humanitarian aid. This included helping ambulances, hospitals, and families. She said the service was not meant to control combat drones. SpaceX took steps to prevent Starlink from being used for drone strikes.
Public Speaking and STEM Support
Gwynne Shotwell often speaks about the importance of STEM. In 2013, she gave a TEDx Talk about this topic. She also speaks to business groups about private companies advancing space travel.
At the 2018 TED conference, she talked about SpaceX's future plans. She also spoke at the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. She discussed her vision for aerospace technology. She also highlighted why having diverse teams, including women, is important for society's progress.
Gwynne has also helped raise money for scholarships. These scholarships support students in STEM fields.
Personal Life
Gwynne Shotwell is married to an engineer who works at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She has two children from a previous marriage.
She owns a ranch in Hamilton County, Texas. It is close to the SpaceX Rocket Development and Test Facility. She considers her ranch her "home office."
Honors and Awards
- 2012: Inducted into the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame.
- 2017: Named Satellite Executive of the Year.
- 2018: Listed among Forbes' America's Top 50 Women In Tech.
- 2020: Named one of Time 100 most influential people.
- 2020: Named Satellite Executive of the Year again.
- 2020: Became a member of the National Academy of Engineering. This was for making space travel more affordable and competitive for NASA.
See also
In Spanish: Gwynne Shotwell para niños
