Faces of Technology
Engineering the Future of
Space Exploration
With fond memories of family trips to watch shuttle launches on the beach , Janet Petro was hooked on space for life .
“ I was inspired from a young age to have the ‘ space DNA ’ as a part of me , particularly watching my father and how hard he worked to make the early test programs leading up to the landing on the moon ,” said the Satellite Beach native .
An engineering graduate of the U . S . Military Academy at West Point – a member of its second class to admit women – Petro eventually faced the decision to either continue her career as a commissioned officer and helicopter pilot for the U . S . Army , or follow in her father ’ s footsteps as an engineer . She made the tough call to enter the private sector .
“ Once again , I found myself back on the Space Coast and deep into the space industry , and loved every minute of it ,” said Petro .
After years as a mechanical engineer processing classified payloads for space shuttle and expendable vehicles , she advanced in management roles at McDonnell Douglas Aerospace Corporation and Science Applications International Corporation . Meanwhile , Petro kept in touch with a former colleague , William Parsons , who would become the ninth director of NASA ’ s John F . Kennedy Space Center . He later became Petro ’ s first boss at NASA , when he recruited her to fill the deputy director role in 2007 .
Petro was well aware of the challenges that lay ahead , with the ending of the shuttle program and visioning for the future , but she looked forward to the challenge .
“ To be part of the center ’ s transformation into the future was something I gravitated toward ,” she said . “ I like to have a big challenge and to be on the front end of putting new systems , technology and processes in place .”
Since joining Kennedy Space Center , Petro has been instrumental in its transformation and continued success . She oversees the maintenance of Kennedy Space Center ’ s
Janet Petro
Deputy Director
NASA ’ s John F . Kennedy Space Center www . nasa . gov / centers / kennedy
Education : B . S . in Engineering , U . S . Military Academy at West Point
M . S . in Business Administration , Boston University ’ s Metropolitan College
Company : Kennedy Space Center safely manages , develops , integrates and sustains space systems through partnerships that enable innovative , diverse access to space and inspires the nation ’ s future explorers .
144,000-acre campus and its three major programs : unmanned and expendable rocket launches , commercial crew transportation and deep space missions . Increasingly , she can also be found facilitating partnerships with experts from public and private organizations to spark new innovations in space research and exploration .
Petro ’ s passion for space continues to be inspired by her family – her 9,000-member Kennedy Space Center family . These are the individuals who drive her to tackle new challenges every day while helping Kennedy Space Center maintain its status as America ’ s premier space port .
“ One of the things I cherish most about NASA is the people ,” Petro explained . “ It ’ s always refreshing to see what a highly motivated and dedicated workforce we have . Of course , I know it ’ s because we have a really cool mission . When you watch a launch , you ’ re really hooked for life .”
68 florida . HIGH . TECH 2017