Dennis J. Andrucyk

Dennis J. Andrucyk was the director of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center from January 2020 through December 2022, guiding the direction and management of one of NASA’s major field installations. Goddard’s sites include the primary campus in Maryland, Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, the Katherine Johnson Independent Verification & Validation Facility in West Virginia, the Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, the White Sands Complex in New Mexico, and the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Texas. Goddard is responsible for the oversight and execution of a $3.2 billion portfolio comprising 80 missions—29 in development and 51 in operation—and is home to the nation’s largest concentration of scientists, engineers and technologists dedicated to Earth and space science. Its workforce consists of more than 10,000 employees, both civil servants and contractors.

Andrucyk was deeply committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace and championed efforts to develop a more diverse and inclusive workforce that encouraged collaboration and partnership across the center and agency.

Andrucyk served in numerous senior leadership roles at NASA. He previously served as the deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, helping oversee the planning, direction and effective management of NASA programs focused on the scientific exploration of Earth, the Moon, Mars and beyond. This included charting the best route of discovery and harnessing advancements in Earth and space exploration for the benefit of society. He managed and sponsored research and flight missions, advanced developments in technology, and supported related activities required to expand our understanding of Earth and the Sun.

Prior to joining the Science Mission Directorate, Andrucyk served as NASA’s acting chief technologist and deputy associate administrator for its Space Technology Mission Directorate. He previously held many positions at Goddard, including director of its Applied Engineering and Technology Directorate, director of engineering, deputy director of engineering, chief of the Software Engineering Division, and chief of the Mission Engineering and Systems Analysis Division. He also served as Goddard’s chief technologist and as associate chief of the Electrical Engineering Division. He was selected as a Goddard senior fellow in 2000.

Before joining NASA in 1988, Andrucyk served at the Department of Defense as both a contractor and civil servant. He has worked for the National Security Agency, Naval Research Laboratory, Westinghouse Electric, General Electric and Northrop Grumman Corporation.

He has earned the NASA Medal for Outstanding Leadership, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, Goddard Outstanding Leadership Honor Award, and Goddard Exceptional Achievement Award in Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity. He is also a two-time recipient of the Senior Executive Service Meritorious Presidential Rank Award.

Andrucyk holds a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park.