Overview
- Laurie Leshin, JPL director since 2022, will leave her position on June 1, transitioning to a professorship at Caltech.
- Dave Gallagher, a 36-year veteran of JPL and current associate director for Strategic Integration, has been selected as her successor by Caltech.
- Leshin’s tenure included significant mission achievements, such as the launches of Psyche, Europa Clipper, and the upcoming NISAR satellite, as well as advancements in Mars exploration and asteroid detection technologies.
- JPL faced major challenges under Leshin, including workforce reductions in 2024 due to budget constraints, the Eaton Fire evacuation in early 2025, and institutional reforms following the Psyche mission review.
- Gallagher, known for his extensive technical and leadership experience, aims to guide JPL through ongoing budgetary pressures and sustain its role in advancing NASA’s space exploration goals.