Dr. Makenzie Lystrup served as the director of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center from April 2023 until her departure in August 2025. As the first woman to lead this prominent center, she guided a team of scientists, engineers, and technologists dedicated to Earth and space science. Under her leadership, Goddard continued to inspire, innovate, and explore the unknown for the benefit of all. ([nasa.gov](
Early Life and Education
Born in 1977, Dr. Lystrup developed an early interest in science. She pursued her undergraduate studies in physics at Portland State University, where she laid the foundation for her future endeavors in astrophysics. Seeking to deepen her expertise, she attended University College London for graduate school, earning a Ph.D. in astrophysics. Her doctoral research focused on near-infrared studies of Jupiter's upper atmosphere, supervised by Emeritus Professor Steven Miller. ([ucl.ac.uk](
Professional Career
After completing her Ph.D., Dr. Lystrup embarked on a diverse career that spanned academia, government, and industry. From 2011 to 2012, she served as an American Institute of Physics – Acoustical Society of America (AIP-ASA) Congressional Fellow in the office of U.S. Representative Edward Markey. In this role, she managed a portfolio that included technology, national defense, nuclear energy, and nuclear nonproliferation. ([nasa.gov](
In 2013, Dr. Lystrup joined Ball Aerospace as a business development manager for space sciences and technologies. Over the years, she advanced to become the vice president and general manager of the Civil Space Strategic Business Unit. In this capacity, she was responsible for the company's portfolio of civil space systems across various science fields, operational weather, Earth observation, and advanced technologies development. Notably, she led Ball's contributions to several significant missions, including NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), Landsat 9, and the Roman Space Telescope. ([nasa.gov](
Appointment as Goddard Center Director
On April 6, 2023, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced Dr. Lystrup's appointment as the director of the Goddard Space Flight Center, making her the first woman to hold this position. In her new role, she was responsible for guiding the direction and management of one of NASA's major field installations, overseeing a $4 billion portfolio and a workforce of more than 10,000 employees. ([nasa.gov](
During her tenure, Dr. Lystrup emphasized the importance of fostering the next generation of innovators and ensuring that the team had the resources and tools to advance technologies and make new discoveries that would benefit the space economy and society at large. ([nasa.gov](
Departure from NASA
In July 2025, NASA announced that Dr. Lystrup would depart from the agency effective August 1, 2025. During her tenure, she contributed to various NASA priority science missions, including the successful operations of the James Webb Space Telescope and Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, as well as the development of the agency's Roman Space Telescope. ([nasa.gov](
Legacy and Recognition
Throughout her career, Dr. Lystrup has been recognized for her contributions to science and leadership. She was named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2019 for her distinguished record in planetary science, infrared astronomy, science policy, and aerospace leadership. Additionally, she was named an SPIE Fellow in 2023 for her work in optics and an AAS Fellow for her contributions to planetary science policy. ([nasa.gov](
Dr. Lystrup's leadership at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center marked a significant chapter in the agency's history, inspiring future generations of scientists and engineers to pursue careers in space exploration and research.