Worden Announces Retirement as NASA Ames Center Director

Earlier today, Pete Worden notified me of his decision to retire as Director of NASA’s Ames Research Center.  After more than four decades of dedicated public service, Pete said it was time to pursue other opportunities. He is an innovative leader, and a tireless advocate for change who has well-positioned Ames and its people for the future exploration opportunities facing this agency.

Pete and his team have worked to make Ames a center of innovation and technology development. He helped support the agency’s overall goals through effective use of the center’s unique wind tunnels, arc jets, and supercomputing facilities, and pioneered the agency’s work on cost-effective small satellites. Under his leadership, he supported utilization of Ames’ remote sensing capabilities to assist improvements in air traffic safety, synthetic biology, and the search for habitable planets. 

I know the entire NASA family joins me in thanking Pete for his service not only to NASA, but to the nation during his 29 years of service in the United States Air Force.  We wish him the best in his future endeavors.  

 Charlie B.