Dennis Andrucyk

Dennis Andrucyk is the deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD). He, alongside the associate administrator Thomas Zurbuchen, have worked to create an innovative, inclusive and diverse team to support the agency’s science missions.

Andrucyk not only works to foster new partnerships with other government agencies but also collaborates with commercial and international organizations to extend the boundaries humanity faces in space and on Earth. Through these partnerships, the potential for science missions on Earth and in space are limitless.

During his time as deputy associate administrator, innovative observing systems are being flown, made possible by new research and technology. For example, while originally used as educational tools, distributed cubesats constellations will fly as a single mission and make simultaneous multi-point Earth measurements, expanding the knowledge of our home planet in a low cost manner. Other cubesats are flying to Mars to relay entry, descent and landing information of the InSight Mars lander, helping us to explore our neighboring planet.

His work to streamline policies and procedures have reduced the overhead required for achieving the agency’s scientific goals. Through working hands-on with colleagues throughout SMD, he has created new processes for lower cost Class-D missions that streamline both the proposal processes for and the management of these missions, ultimately increasing SMD’s scientific return on investment.

Andrucyk has also championed efforts to develop a more diverse and inclusive workforce that encourages collaboration and partnership across NASA Science.

Prior to joining SMD, Andrucyk served as NASA’s acting chief technologist and as deputy associate administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate and held many positions at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

Before joining NASA in 1988, Andrucyk served at the Department of Defense as both a contractor and a civil servant. He has worked at the National Security Agency, the Naval Research Laboratory, Westinghouse Electric, General Electric, and the Northrop Grumman Corporation.

Andrucyk has twice earned the Senior Executive Service Meritorious Presidential Rank Award, the NASA Medal for Outstanding Leadership, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the Goddard Outstanding Leadership Honor Award, and the Goddard Exceptional Achievement Award in Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity.