Houston, we have a podcast. Welcome to the official podcast of the NASA Johnson Space Center

episode 256, leading the space coast. I'm Gary Jordan, and I'll be your host today.

On this podcast, we bring in the experts, scientists, engineers, astronauts, leaders,

all to let you know what's going on in the world of human spaceflight.

On June 20, 2021, Janet Petro was named as the 11th director of the Kennedy Space Center,

becoming the first woman to be selected as director in the center's history. Before

NASA, Janet began her career in the US Army after earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering

from the US Military Academy at West Point, New York. During her high school years, military

academies had just opened for women to enroll. Seizing the opportunity, Janet's class became

the second class of women ever to graduate from West Point. After college, she then went

on to receive her Master's in Business Administration from Boston University Metropolitan College.

She has received numerous awards, including the 2022 Dr. Kurt H. Debus Award by National

Space Club Florida Committee and her contributions to America's Aerospace Efforts. And she also

received the 2019 Samuel J. Hyman Service to America's Sammy's Management Excellence

Medal. She also is the recipient of a President's Distinguished Executive Award and has received

the astronaut selected Silver Snoopy Award for outstanding performance for contributing

to flight safety and mission success. In 2018, Janet was chosen by Florida Governor Rick

Scott to be inducted into Florida's Women's Hall of Fame.

Janet has created an enormous impact on the space program and community, leading Kennedy

Space Center into a new era of collaboration and innovation. Serving as a role model for

her children and women across the world, her goal is to inspire a young girl to follow

their dreams and always strive for success, no matter the obstacles that might stand

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