NASA Goddard Director Steps Down

Dr. Makenzie Lystrup, the current director of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, is set to depart from her role on August 1, 2025, according to an announcement made by NASA on Monday. Lystrup has been at the helm of the Goddard Space Flight Center since April 2023, overseeing not only the center’s operations in Greenbelt, Maryland, but also the management of several other field installations including the Wallops Flight Facility and the White Sands Complex.

During her tenure at Goddard, Lystrup has been instrumental in leading various priority science missions such as the James Webb Space Telescope and the Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer. Her leadership has been credited with fostering a new era of exploration and scientific discovery at NASA, as noted by Vanessa Wyche, the acting NASA associate administrator. Lystrup’s career prior to NASA includes significant contributions in the aerospace and science sectors, having held senior positions at Ball Aerospace and serving as a fellow in science policy and advocacy.

Following her departure, Cynthia Simmons, currently the deputy center director, will assume the role of acting center director. For further details on Lystrup’s achievements and NASA’s ongoing projects, interested parties are encouraged to visit NASA’s official website.