Donya Douglas-Bradshaw
Mars Sample Return Program Director
As the Director for the Mars Sample Return Program at NASA, Donya Douglas-Bradshaw is a visionary leader, renowned for her exceptional project management skills in space exploration and engineering. With over 30 years of dedicated service, she has played pivotal roles in NASA’s transformative journey, managing large-scale operations and advancing breakthrough technologies.
Starting with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, Ms. Douglas-Bradshaw’s profound expertise in space systems and engineering principles propelled her career within NASA. She has led critical missions like the ~$1 billion Lucy mission, the first to explore Jupiter trojan asteroids, successfully overseeing its development during the pandemic and ensuring on-time, under-budget launch in October 2021. Prior to Lucy, she managed the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite 2 (ICESat-2) Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS), a pioneering $0.5 billion instrument built at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
Her contributions extend beyond project management to strategic planning and budget execution, notably handling a $0.5 billion annual budget as Deputy Director for Planning and Business Management within NASA Goddard’s Engineering and Technology Directorate (ETD). Through her career, she continues to deliver innovative solutions that drive progress in space exploration and benefit society.
In addition to her technical achievements, Ms. Douglas-Bradshaw has authored or co-authored over 20 publications in research and development on capillary pumped loops, loop heat pipes, and variable emittance coatings. Her distinguished achievements and outstanding leadership have been recognized through numerous Agency awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal, the highest award that can be bestowed by NASA. Ms. Douglas-Bradshaw has also been featured in national magazines such as Upscale Magazine and Black Enterprise. Notably, she was listed as one of THEGRIO.COM’s Top 100 History Makers in the Making, further solidifying her impact and influence in her field.