Amit Kshatriya Appointed NASA's New Associate Administrator

New York/Washington, Sep 4 (PTI) A renowned Indian-American, Amit Kshatriya, has been appointed as NASA's new associate administrator, with a focus on exploration, according to an announcement by the US space agency.

Kshatriya, who has dedicated 20 years to NASA, was most recently the deputy in charge of the Moon to Mars Programme within the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD) located at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) headquarters in Washington.

Acting NASA Administrator Sean P Duffy announced on Wednesday that Amit Kshatriya, who has an emphasis on exploration, has been appointed as NASA's new associate administrator, the highest civil service position within the agency, stated a NASA release.

Born in Wisconsin to Indian immigrant parents, Kshatriya was educated at the California Institute of Technology (CalTech) and the University of Texas at Austin. He stands among the approximate group of 100 individuals in history who have served as a mission control flight director.

Joining NASA in 2003, Kshatriya was honored with the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal for his role as the lead flight director for the 50th expedition to the space station, as referenced in his NASA website profile.

He is also a recipient of the Silver Snoopy award, conferred by astronauts for exceptional performance contributing to flight safety. This accolade recognized his leadership as the lead robotics officer for the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Dragon demonstration mission to the orbiting laboratory.

In his new position, Kshatriya serves as the highest-ranking civil servant at NASA, functioning also as a senior advisor to Duffy, the agency reported.

Kshatriya oversees the leadership of the agency’s 10 center directors, alongside the mission directorate associate administrators stationed at NASA headquarters in Washington. He also operationally functions as the agency’s chief operating officer.

Previously, in his role as deputy in charge of the Moon to Mars Programme, Kshatriya handled program planning and implementation for crewed missions to the Moon, specifically under the Artemis campaign, paving the way for humanity’s inaugural mission to Mars.

The elevation of Kshatriya to NASA’s senior ranks places the United States' ambition to return to the Moon through Artemis at the core of NASA's mission. This move underscores the commitment of President Donald J. Trump and Duffy to advance American lunar exploration ahead of China, according to the statement.

“Amit has devoted over two decades to public service at NASA, advancing American leadership in space. Under his leadership, NASA is set to map out a bold vision to return Americans to the Moon during President Trump’s term,” stated Duffy.

“Amit's expertise, integrity, and steadfast dedication to ushering a new era in exploration render him uniquely suited for the role of associate administrator. With Amit, we will continue to push the boundaries of possibility,” he mentioned.

Kshatriya’s advancement also underscores how the Trump Administration views the commercial space sector as a driving force within the American economy, the statement declared. By positioning an experienced leader at the helm, NASA aims to foster closer collaboration with America’s burgeoning space industry, expand the space economy, and ensure that the future of exploration is firmly rooted within the United States, it highlighted.

Kshatriya contributes unmatched operational and strategic expertise to NASA's executive leadership team, concluded the statement.

According to the Caltech alumni blog, Kshatriya’s parents—his father, an engineer, and his mother, a chemist—both immigrants from India, emphasized the paramount importance of education in mathematics and sciences.

He and his wife have three children.

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