Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
NASA has announced that Janet Petro will retire from her position as director of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. As the center's 11th director, she played a key leadership role in developing Kennedy as a leading multi-user spaceport, managing both civil service and contractor employees and overseeing the center's missions and responsibilities. Petro also served as acting NASA administrator from January to July 2025.
During her tenure, Petro led efforts with the Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Air Force to streamline government procedures and support commercial space operations, increasing efficiency and reducing redundancy. Before becoming director, she held various roles within NASA and served as program executive for a restructuring initiative to improve agency mission support functions.
Before joining NASA in 2007, Petro held management positions in the military and aerospace industry at Science Applications International Corporation and McDonnell Douglas Aerospace Corporation. She began her professional career as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1981 in the second class to include women. Petro also has a master's degree in business administration from Boston University’s Metropolitan College.
She has received several service and performance awards, including the President’s Distinguished Executive Award and the astronaut-selected Silver Snoopy Award for outstanding performance.