A decorated Indian-American named Amit Kshatriya has been appointed as NASA's new associate administrator focused on exploration, as announced by the US space agency.
Kshatriya, who has spent 20 years at NASA, most recently served as the deputy overseeing the Moon to Mars Programme within the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD) at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Raised in Wisconsin by Indian immigrant parents, Kshatriya studied at the California Institute of Technology (CalTech) and the University of Texas at Austin and is among approximately 100 individuals historically to hold the position of mission control flight director.
He became part of NASA in 2003 and received the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal for his role as the lead flight director for the 50th expedition to the space station.
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Additionally, he has been awarded a Silver Snoopy, which is given by astronauts for exceptional contributions to flight safety, reflecting his work as the lead robotics officer during the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Dragon demonstration mission to the International Space Station, it noted.
In his new capacity, Kshatriya is considered the highest-ranking civil servant within NASA and serves as a senior advisor to Duffy, the agency stated.
He oversees the agency's 10 center directors along with the associate administrators of the mission directorate at NASA headquarters in Washington, and he also fulfills the duties of chief operating officer for the agency.
In his previous role as the deputy overseeing the Moon to Mars Programme, Kshatriya was in charge of program planning and execution for crewed lunar missions under the Artemis campaign, paving the way for humanity's inaugural mission to Mars.
Kshatriya’s advancement also reflects the Trump Administration's view of the commercial space industry as a significant economic driver for the United States, as the statement indicated. By positioning an experienced leader at the forefront, NASA aims to enhance partnerships with America’s expanding space industry, foster the space economy, and secure the future of exploration within the U.S., it mentioned.
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Kshatriya contributes exceptional operational and strategic expertise to NASA's executive leadership team, the statement emphasized.
According to the Caltech alumni blog, Kshatriya's father, an engineer, and mother, a chemist—both of whom are Indian immigrants—instilled in him the value of a strong education in mathematics and science.