Janet Petro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Janet Petro
|
|
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2015
|
|
| Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration | |
|
Acting
|
|
| In office January 20, 2025 – July 9, 2025 |
|
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Bill Nelson |
| Succeeded by | Sean Duffy (acting) |
| 11th Director of the Kennedy Space Center | |
| Assumed office June 1, 2021 |
|
| President | Joe Biden Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Robert D. Cabana |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1960 (age 64–65) Michigan, U.S. |
| Education | United States Military Academy (BS) Boston University (MBA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
Janet E. Petro is an American engineer and a public official who has worked for the government. Since 2021, she has been the 11th director of the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). From January 20 to July 9, 2025, Petro also served as the acting leader of NASA.
When she was chosen as KSC director on June 1, 2021, Janet Petro became the first woman to hold that important job. She also made history as the first woman to be the acting administrator of NASA, a role she took on January 20, 2025.
Contents
Early Life and School
Janet Petro was born in Michigan. Her family moved to Florida when her father got a job with NASA. He worked on the Mercury and Gemini space programs at the Kennedy Space Center.
Janet grew up in Satellite Beach, Florida. She went to Surfside Elementary, DeLaura Middle, and Satellite High School. In 1981, she graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering. She was part of the second group of women to graduate from West Point. Later, she also earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Boston University.
Starting Her Career
After graduating from West Point, Janet Petro became an officer in the U.S. Army. She was part of the Army's Aviation Branch. This meant she flew helicopters and led groups of soldiers in Germany.
After her time in the Army, she worked for different companies. She held various management jobs at Science Applications International Corporation. She also worked as a mechanical engineer and a payload specialist at McDonnell Douglas Aerospace Corporation. A payload specialist helps prepare things that go into space. After these jobs, she began her career at NASA.
Leading at Kennedy Space Center
Janet Petro served as the Deputy Center Director of the John F. Kennedy Space Center. In this role, she helped change the center into a "multi-user spaceport." This means it became a place where many different groups, not just NASA, could launch rockets and spacecraft. She was also the first woman to be the deputy director of KSC.
On June 1, 2021, Janet Petro became the 11th Center Director of KSC. This is the main leader of the space center.
Acting NASA Administrator
From January 20 to July 9, 2025, Janet Petro was the acting administrator of NASA. This means she was temporarily in charge of the entire space agency. During her time as acting administrator, she made some changes to how NASA operated, following new rules from the President.
Awards and Honors
Janet Petro has received several important awards for her work:
- In 2018, she was chosen to be part of the Florida Women's Hall of Fame.
- In 2019, she received the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Sammies Management Excellence Medal. This award recognizes excellent public servants.
- She also received the President's Distinguished Executive Award. This is a high honor for government leaders.
- She was given the Silver Snoopy Award. This special award is given by NASA astronauts to people who have helped make spaceflight missions successful and safe.
