Marcus Watkins

Mr. Watkins currently serves as the Director of the NASA Management Office (NMO) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the Agency’s only Federally Funded Research and Development Center dedicated to the robotic exploration of the solar system. NASA contracted the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) to manage JPL under the oversight of the NMO, and JPL currently operates missions such as the Curiosity Rover, InSight Mars lander, and the Juno orbiter studying the atmosphere of Jupiter. Mr. Watkins has managed and enhanced collaborations and coalitions with HQ offices, NASA Centers, other Government agencies, Caltech campus, JPL, and international partners, significantly increasing communication and interaction that has resulted in a more effective and efficient Lab. He worked his way up from an aerospace technician at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) to a Senior Executive overseeing NASA Earth and space science satellite programs. He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 1999.

Mr. Watkins previously served as the Director, Office of Systems Safety and Mission Assurance at Goddard Space Flight 2006 -2010. Mr. Watkins also served as NASA’s Representative to Spain 2003-2006, responsible for all NASA issues in Spain including the Robledo Antenna Tracking Station, Center for Astrobiology, Trans Atlantic Abort Landing Sites, and various Education initiatives. Mr. Watkins held several different roles at NASA HQ including the Associate Director of the Sun-Earth Connection Division and Deputy Director of Flight Programs within the Office of Space Science. Mr. Watkins directed flight program definition and development of the Discovery, Explorers, New Millennium, Balloon and Sounding Rocket Programs delegated to the GSFC, AMES, MSFC, and the JPL. Mr. Watkins has held positions as a Program and Project Manager on various advanced technology projects and programs in the Office of Aeronautics, Exploration and Technology.

Mr. Watkins holds an undergraduate degree in Systems Engineering and a graduate degree in Engineering Administration from George Washington University.