Ellen Ochoa, Ph.D.
Astronaut. NASA Leader. Trailblazing Advocate.
From her days of soaring through space to leading with precision behind the scenes at NASA, Ellen Ochoa, Ph.D. has left an enduring legacy here on Earth … one that is benefiting companies and institutions, as well as inspiring our next generation of explorers.
1st Latina Astronaut in Space
After joining NASA’s Astronaut Corps in 1991, Ellen became the first Latina astronaut in space when she flew aboard STS-56/Space Shuttle Discovery in 1993. Three more missions followed – STS-66/Space Shuttle Atlantis in 1994; STS-96/Space Shuttle Discovery in 1999 (first docking to the International Space Station) and STS-110/Space Shuttle Atlantis in 2002. On all her flights, her mission specialist roles ranged from robotic arm operator to payload commander to flight engineer. She’s used the robotic arm to deploy and capture free-flying satellites and maneuver spacewalking crewmates, as well as conducted onboard scientific activities that have helped expand knowledge and advance on-Earth technological breakthroughs. She was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2017.
Assuming the Helm at NASA-JSC
In 2013, Ellen became the 11th Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, leading the human space flight enterprise for the nation. She was the second female, and first Latina, to assume the position. During her five-year tenure, she spearheaded changes to help the Center operate in leaner, more agile and adaptive ways, as well as, launched initiatives on innovation and inclusion.
She also oversaw programmatic milestones, such as the first flight test of the Orion spacecraft, the one-year ISS mission of Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko, the selection of four astronauts to train for launch aboard new commercial crew capsules, and a streamlined payload certification process that led to the first DNA sequencing in space.
Prior to becoming Center Director, Ellen served as Deputy Center Director and Director of Flight Crew Operations at JSC. Other noted roles include leading the astronaut office support to the ISS in the mid-1990s, including development of the operations concept, and transitioning astronaut support of Mission Control from short-term shuttle flights to 24/7 support of ISS. She joined NASA in 1988 as a research engineer at the Ames Research Center in California.
A STEM Education Advocate
Ellen is passionate about education. The California native earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from San Diego State University, along with master’s and doctorate degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University. She also holds three patents for optical systems and has authored several technical papers. She has been awarded eight honorary doctorates, and eight schools across California, Maryland, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington bear her name. An outspoken advocate for girls and minorities entering STEM fields, Ellen has several K-8 grade books written about her, and has been profiled in textbooks, websites, podcasts and articles. She has authored a series of bilingual (English/Spanish) children’s books, one for each of the letters of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math); the final book will be published in Fall 2024.
Ellen is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, honoring her career and her inspiration to others. In addition, a variety of STEM organizations have recognized her achievements: she is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) and Optica (formerly the Optical Society of America). She has been inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame, the Government Hall of Fame, the California Hall of Fame and the International Air & Space Hall of Fame.
Guiding Others to Excellence
Ellen has shared her experiences in space and executive management via 300+ presentations to a variety of audiences. She provides executive guidance to a variety of organizations, including serving on the boards of two public companies: NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA), and Service Corporation International (Compensation Committee Chair; NYSE:SCI). She is a member of the Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA), and WomenCorporateDirectors (WCD). She is also on the boards of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, SRI International and Mutual of America Financial Group. Previously, she chaired the National Science Board and the Nomination Evaluation Committee for the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, and served on the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas board, the Stanford University Board of Trustees and the Manned Space Flight Education Foundation, Inc.
