Introduction

On this episode Ed Hoffman and Laurel Sim are joined by Gregory Robinson, Former Program Director, James Webb Space Telescope.

Mr. Robinson has over 30 years of engineering, program and project management, and senior executive leadership at NASA.

Mr. Robinson was the Program Director of the $10B James Webb Space Telescope (Webb), which launched Christmas Day 2021.  Webb is currently providing never seen before images and data of our amazing universe.  He was formerly the Deputy Associate Administrator for Programs, NASA Science Mission Directorate, overseeing the development and operations of 114 flight projects.

Mr. Robinson held the position of Deputy Director of NASA’s John Glenn Research Center, consisting of 3,200 employees, where the scope spans research and technology, aeronautics, science spaceflight, and human spaceflight.  He served as NASA’s Deputy Chief Engineer and was engaged with numerous satellite developments and launches, as well as the final 21 space shuttle launches.  Mr. Robinson also served as Deputy Assistant Administrator for Systems at NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, leading the acquisition and management of all weather satellite systems. He previously spent 11 years in various leadership positions at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

Mr. Robinson serves as faculty at the Columbia University, School of Professional Studies, Information & Knowledge Strategy program; he also served as faculty at the George Washington University, Department of Engineering Management & Systems Engineering.

Awards:

• TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2022.
• 2022 TIME 100 Impact Award
• TIME 2022 Innovator of the Year - Gregory Robinson and The James Webb Telescope
• Federal Employee of the Year Medal recipient for the 2022, Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals (Sammies).
• EBONY 2022 Power 100 List - STEM Trailblazers
• Roy L. Clay Sr. Technology Pinnacle Award, “Innovation & Equity 21: 50 Most Important African-Americans in Technology” in 2022
• Presidential Distinguished Executive Rank Award in 2022, 2013; Presidential Meritorious Executive Rank Award in 2007

Education:

• Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Averett University, 1993
• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Howard University, 1983
• Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics, Virginia Union University, 1983
• Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, Senior Executive Fellows Program, 2005
• Federal Executive Institute, Leadership for a Democratic Society, 200