Robyn Mitchell

As the deputy director of Center Planning and Development (CPD) at NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Robyn Mitchell leads development and modification of agreements with public and private entities for use of center land, facilities, capabilities, services, equipment, and technologies. She serves as an advisor to other program initiatives, including facility siting, assessment of infrastructure capacity issues, impacts of future growth on center, and other issues as related to the implementation of the Kennedy Master Plan.

Mitchell helps coordinate economic development and related planning activities with local, regional, and state organizations, neighboring federal and local government jurisdictions, and NASA stakeholders, while also coordinating the development, integration, and collaboration of the multi-user spaceport vision within Kennedy, with NASA Headquarters, and with space industry partners and other government entities. The center director also appointed Mitchell to serve as a center agreement manager, and she is considered a subject matter expert responsible for understanding the center’s partnership commitments and how they align with the center’s multi-user spaceport strategy and philosophy.

Experience

From 2018 to 2021, Mitchell was chief of CPD’s Partnership Development Office, leading the management of partnerships with commercial and other governmental entities using Kennedy facilities and personnel. She provided expert guidance in support of industry solicitations including Requests for Information, Announcements for Proposals, and Notices of Availability, while also leading policy and strategic planning to promote and enable partner use of Kennedy facilities, land, and personnel resources integral to multi-user spaceport use, growth, and expansion.

Beginning in 2010, Mitchell served as a partnership development manager at Kennedy, responsible for drafting and developing high-value agreements for commercial or other federal agency use of surplus facilities and services. In 2014, she also was nominated and selected as assistant to Kennedy’s deputy director. In 2015, she joined the Customer Services Branch of Kennedy’s Spaceport Integration and Services Directorate, providing leadership for the execution and implementation of Commercial Space Launch Act agreements, Reimbursable Space Act agreements, Real Property agreements, and the Kennedy Space Center Master Plan.

Mitchell first came to Kennedy in 2005 through the Resident Management Office, via NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, as an aerospace engineer supporting the Defense Contract Management Agency’s NASA Product Operations Office at the spaceport. She provided engineering and technical support essential for government insight for safety and mission assurance on the space shuttle solid rocket booster project. In 2007, she moved to the Vehicle Systems Department within the Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate, assessing the safety, quality, and reliability of NASA flight vehicles, specifically the space shuttle boosters.

Education

Mitchell received a Bachelor of Science in engineering physics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, and a Master of Science in space systems from Florida Institute of Technology.

Awards

During her time with NASA, Mitchell has received several awards, including two Kennedy Space Center Group Achievement Awards, two Marshall Space Flight Center Group Achievement Awards, and a Johnson Space Center Group Achievement Award.

Personal

When not at work, Mitchell makes her home in nearby Merritt Island, Florida, and enjoys participating in the arts, particularly acrylic painting. She also lives by her personal motto: “Plan for the future, but live like there is no tomorrow.”

Biography last updated August 2023