Janet Petro, the director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, has announced her retirement, marking the end of a significant chapter in her career with the agency. Petro joined NASA in 2007 and has held various leadership positions, including serving as acting administrator from January to July 2025.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised Petro’s influential leadership, stating, “From the outset of her distinguished tenure at NASA, Janet has served as a profoundly influential leader, guiding both the agency and our Kennedy Space Center through some of the most significant transitions in our shared history.” He highlighted her role in transforming Kennedy into the nation’s premier multiuser spaceport.
Leadership and Achievements
As the 11th director of NASA Kennedy, Petro managed a diverse team of civil service and contractor employees, overseeing center policy and executing the spaceport’s missions. Her prior role as deputy director involved facilitating the transition to a multi-user spaceport, where she led initiatives with the FAA and the U.S. Air Force to streamline processes and enhance commercial space operations.
Petro’s extensive background includes various roles at Kennedy and NASA Headquarters, where she was instrumental in restructuring mission support functions to improve efficiency. Her career began as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, where she graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1981, being part of the second class to include women.
Acknowledgments and Awards
Throughout her career, Petro has received numerous accolades, including the President’s Distinguished Executive Award and the astronaut-selected Silver Snoopy Award for her contributions to flight safety and mission success. In 2018, she was inducted into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame, and her leadership team was awarded the 2019 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Sammies Management Excellence Medal.
Transition of Leadership
Effective May 1, 2026, Kelvin Manning will assume the role of acting center director, bringing over 32 years of leadership and technical expertise to the position. Manning has previously served as deputy center director.
For more information about NASA’s missions, visit: https://www.nasa.gov.
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