Robyn N. Gordon

Robyn N. Gordon is the Director of Strategy at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. In this position, Gordon furthers NASA’s contribution to technological advancement through the coordination of an integrated strategy with external partners.  Additionally, she constructs and utilizes procedures that aid NASA Glenn’s strategic engagement plan and guide NASA towards its innovative pursuits.

Gordon previously served as director of the Center Operations Directorate at Glenn, where she managed organizational objectives, direction, resource allocation, strategic initiatives, and institutional functions. Gordon also oversaw the Offices of Protective Services and STEM Engagement, the Lean Six-Sigma Program, Logistical and Technical Information Division, and Procurement.

Prior to this appointment, Gordon held several key positions at Glenn, including deputy director of the Center Operations Directorate, chief of the Diversity Management Office, and chief of the Office of Human Resources and Workforce Planning. She also has worked at the agency level as executive officer to NASA’s deputy administrator supporting and advising the deputy administrator on policy issues, strategic policy decisions, and mission support initiatives.

Gordon is an accomplished executive and non-profit board member. She has an extensive background developing, implementing, and measuring strategic and business planning initiatives and processes for organizations. Before joining Glenn, Gordon served in leadership roles at the Cuyahoga County Public Library and the City of Cleveland.

Gordon is a graduate of Cleveland State University with a bachelor’s degree in human resources management and a Master of Business Administration. She also completed the Senior Executive Fellows Program at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the Women’s Leadership Forum at the Harvard Business School. Gordon is active in the community and serves as chair of the St. Vincent Health Campus Board and as a member of the board of directors for the Sisters of Charity Foundation and the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio. Previous community involvement includes the boards of the Cleveland Public Library Foundation, the National Center on Nonprofit Enterprise, and Cleveland State University where she served as community trustee.

Her professional and personal accomplishments have been recognized by numerous organizations with many accolades, including the following: YWCA Women of Achievement (2022); Crain’s Women of Note Award (2016), Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio-Woman of Distinction (2014); Junior League of Cleveland-Francis Payne Bolton Award (2010); NASA Group Achievement Award (2009); Glenn Federal Women’s Program Supervisory Award (2009); National Women of Color Technology Award for Community Service (2007); and Minorities in Research Science Trailblazers Award (2006). Gordon has also been recognized by the United States government with a Presidential Rank Award, which honors high-performing senior career employees for sustained extraordinary accomplishment.