Carimanda Cephas
Acting Director, Integration and Management Office
Carimanda Cephas is the Acting Director of the Integration and Management Office (IMO) for NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD). She is responsible for leading a team of analysts in the communications, strategy, partnerships, and technology realm.
A member of the IMO team since 2022, she currently maintains dual duties in Congressional and interagency relations, regularly interfacing with the Office of Legislative Affairs, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, and interagency stakeholders.
Prior to joining NASA in 2022, she served as a senior communications subject matter expert at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. In this capacity, she led incident communications efforts, often with a nexus to cybersecurity and national security.
As a federal government employee since 2011, she previously worked at the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of State in several senior advisory positions in emergency management, evaluation, strategy, and public affairs.
Cephas earned a master’s of professional studies in public relations and corporate communications from Georgetown University, a master’s of science degree in strategic intelligence from the National Intelligence University, a master’s of arts degree in public sociology from American University, and a bachelor’s of arts degree in sociology from Washington College.
In addition, she serves as an adjunct lecturer, at Johns Hopkins University, teaching a self-designed course in crisis management.
A native of Maryland, she is a classically trained ballerina, former flute and trumpet player, and an occasional sports fan with a keen focus on the Washington Commanders and the Washington Capitals.
