Leslie Batchelder

Leslie Batchelder is an accomplished professional with over 20 years of experience at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC), where she began her career as a co-op student in 2004.

Currently, Leslie serves as the Resource Manager for NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), Center Innovation Fund, and Early Career Initiative program office, a role she officially began in January 2024. Prior to this, she spent a decade contributing to Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) projects. Notably, she served as the lead center program analyst for the Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID) project, which made history on November 10, 2022, by deploying the largest blunt body aeroshell ever to enter an atmosphere.

Leslie holds a B.A. in Business Management (2009) and an M.B.A. (2010) from Saint Leo University.

Leslie resides with her husband, Ian, and their two children, Maya and Aubrey.  Beyond her professional career, Leslie is an active member of her community, serving as a troop leader and treasurer for her daughters’ Girl Scout troop.  Additionally, she stays active as a member of Merrimac Dog Training Club, where she serves on the Board of Directors and enjoys training her standard poodles, Penny and Zoey, in various dog sports.