Debbie Martínez

In January 2023, Debbie Martínez was selected as deputy director of the Research Services Directorate (RSD) at NASA’s Langley Research Center. She brings more than three decades of experience in aeronautics, project management, and cross‑agency collaboration.

Previously, Martínez served as associate project manager for the IASP/Low Boom Flight Demonstrator (LBFD X‑59/Quesst) and AAVP/Commercial Supersonic Technology (CST) projects. She also completed a one‑year detail as deputy director of the Office of Strategic Analysis, Communications, and Business Development (OSACB), where she led the Strategic Analysis and Integration team. Earlier, she spent six years as execution manager for the Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program (TACP)/Convergent Aeronautics Solutions (CAS) project, guiding more than 21 research teams across NASA’s four aeronautics centers to advance emerging concepts including MADCAT, Learn2FLY, SCEPTOR/X‑57 Maxwell, FUELEAP, Digital Twin, and STEReO.

Martínez has also contributed to major science and space missions. As deputy project manager and lead systems engineer for the Orion Flight Test Article (FTA), she delivered the full‑scale Pad Abort 1 Crew Module for a successful launch and test at White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico. This milestone laid essential groundwork for Artemis by providing the first full‑system demonstration of Orion’s Launch Abort System, validating critical safety, structural, and avionics performance that now underpins the human‑rated spacecraft.

Martínez began her NASA career in 1990 in the Simulation Development & Analysis Branch and later supported flight operations. She holds degrees from Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University (BS), Thomas Nelson Community College (AS), and Old Dominion University (ME), along with an FAA private pilot license. She is an active NASA outreach advocate and recipient of numerous agency, academic, and industry honors, including the ODU Batten College of Engineering & Technology Pioneer Award.