Johnson Director Vanessa Wyche Honored with BAHEP's 2023 Quasar Award
On Jan. 27, 2023, in the elegant ballroom of South Shore Harbour Resort & Conference Center in League City, Texas, the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership (BAHEP) awarded Vanessa Wyche, Director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, the 2023 Quasar Award for Economic Development Excellence.
"I'm humbled and honored to be chosen as the recipient of the prestigious Quasar Award. The future of human space exploration is brighter than ever as we are developing and operating more human-rated spacecraft than ever in our history, enabling us to conduct low-Earth orbit and deep space exploration simultaneously. I'm very proud to be leading NASA's Johnson Space Center at this exciting time, as we partner with industry, academia, and the international space community, to meet NASA's objectives of propelling the space economy and simultaneously exploring low-Earth orbit and deep space under Artemis," said Wyche. "At Johnson, our support for a robust space economy is intended to boost education and job growth in science and engineering while spurring economic growth to expand the exploration of space for all humanity. Thank you, again, for honoring me for doing a job that I love!"
Johnson Director Vanessa preparing to speak at South Shore Harbour Resort & Conference Center in League City, TX. Credits: Robert Markowitz/NASA
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Throughout his BAHEP career, President Bob Mitchell has had the privilege to work with five Johnson Space Center directors. He said, "Vanessa has been an exceptional director for NASA JSC – one of its best. She has worked to protect the Center's assets and assertively engaged with commercial and government operations to safeguard and expand the nation's human spaceflight program as well as JSC's execution of responsibilities within that program. Vanessa doesn't settle for the status quo but uses her expertise and vision, along with that of her colleagues, to plan for the future of human spaceflight and NASA JSC."
Brian Freedman, BAHEP's president as of Jan. 1, 2023, stated, "Vanessa is an outstanding regional leader for economic development. The Johnson Space Center is an economic engine for the region, and she has been aggressive in her efforts to expand JSC's role in human spaceflight, in working collaboratively with the community, and in creating opportunities where the industry can participate. The recent successful launch of the Artemis I Mission showcases that leadership with her team managing the entire mission and ensuring that the next 'first words' from the Moon start with 'Houston.'"
From left are, Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Development Catherine Koerner, Deputy Director, Steve Koerner, Johnson Director Vanessa Wyche and her husband, George Wyche, Jr. Credits: Robert Markowitz/NASA
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Johnson is home to America's astronaut corps, Mission Control Center, International Space Station, Orion and Gateway programs, and more than 11,000 civil service and contractor employees. Wyche served as Johnson's deputy director for three years beginning in 2018. Now, she oversees a broad range of human spaceflight activities, including the development and operation of human spacecraft, commercialization of low-Earth orbit, and the Center's role in landing the first woman and first person of color on the surface of the Moon. Under Wyche's leadership, Forbes and Statista recognized Johnson as the No. 1 best employer among Texas' major employers.
In October, Wyche gave the third annual State of Space address. One of NASA's latest accomplishments was the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) Mission. "Based on the data compiled from the trail that came off the asteroid, NASA is certain the spacecraft made an impact," Wyche said. The mission is intended to test whether such a technique could be used to protect Earth someday by deflecting an asteroid.
The Artemis I Mission, managed by Johnson's Mission Control Center, successfully and spectacularly launched in the early morning of Nov. 16, 2022. Johnson and its American and international partners will be major players in future missions to land astronauts on the Moon. The director believes it will take many partnerships to accomplish NASA's goals.
According to Wyche, research, innovation, and workforce development are vital to maintaining Johnson as the home of human spaceflight, and she is dedicated to discovering and growing the best partnerships that will take humans to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.