Vanessa E. Wyche
Vanessa Wyche | |
|---|---|
 Wyche from Women at NASA c. 2014 |
Vanessa E. Wyche is an American engineer and civil servant who works at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston. She currently serves as the Deputy Director of JSC.[1][2][3] As a lead engineer, Wyche assists the JSC leadership team with policy development, staff relations, strategic planning, and management integration of technical, mission support and communications activities.
Early life and education
Wyche became interested in science at an early age and had parents who supported her interests in science.[4][5] She grew up in Conway, South Carolina.[5] When she was a junior in high school, she attended the Governor's School for top students.[5] In 1981, she started attending Clemson University.[5] Wyche holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Materials Engineering and a Master’s of Science in Bioengineering from Clemson.[6]
Career
Wyche began her career at the Food and Drug Administration.[6] Her career with NASA began in 1989.[6] Wyche also served as a Project Manager within the Space and Life Sciences Directorate, where she was responsible for the development and use of suites of hardware systems for medical and microgravity experiments on the space shuttle and the International Space Station.[6][7] She has led a team of 400 engineers and scientists that are working on how to send human explorers to Mars.[8] She has also worked as the director of the Exploration Integration and Science Directorate at the Johnson Space Center. On August 8, 2018, Vanessa Wyche was selected as the Johnson Space Center Deputy Director.[1]
Awards and recognition
Wyche has received the following awards:
- NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal[9]
- Two NASA Achievement Medals[9]
- Rotary Stellar Nomination
- Women@NASA Awardee (2014)[6]
- “Women Worth Watching” honoree (2016)[10]
- Inducted into Thomas Green Clemson Academy of Engineers and Scientists at Clemson University (2019)
Personal life
Wyche currently lives in Houston.[3]
References
- ^ a b Bacon, Nicole (2018-08-08). "NASA Announces New Deputy Director of Johnson Space Center". NASA. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
- ^ Wong, Michael (2017-11-07). "Vanessa E. Wyche - Deputy Director of NASA's Johnson Space Center". NASA. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
- ^ a b Shah, Leah (2018-03-15). "Influential Women in Houston". Visit Houston. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
- ^ Donchey, Sara (7 April 2017). "Women Making a Difference: NASA scientist teaches students..." Click 2 Houston. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
- ^ a b c d Rodriguez, Louise (25 April 2017). "Science, and Chance, Propelled African-American Engineer to NASA". Reporting Texas. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
- ^ a b c d e "Vanessa Wyche". Women@NASA. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
- ^ "NASA encourages young minds at 13th Annual Math & Science Lecture Series - North Dallas Gazette". North Dallas Gazette. 2016-03-13. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
- ^ "NASA scientist encourages girls to pursue STEM careers". Carolina Panorama Newspaper. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
- ^ a b "Vanessa E. Wyche, Conway native, to be honored for NASA accomplishments". Myrtle Beach Online. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
- ^ "Announcing the 2016 Women Worth Watching® Award Winners". Retrieved 2021-02-28.
External links
- 60 Seconds With a NASA Bioengineer: Vanessa Wyche (2016 video)
- Coastal Carolina University-2017 Inspiring Woman From South Carolina