Janet Petro

Janet Petro
Official portrait, 2015
Acting Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
In office
January 20, 2025 – July 9, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byBill Nelson
Succeeded bySean Duffy (acting)
11th Director of the Kennedy Space Center
Assumed office
June 1, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
Donald Trump
Preceded byRobert D. Cabana
Personal details
Born1960 (age 65–66)
Michigan, U.S.
EducationUnited States Military Academy (BS)
Boston University (MBA)
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army

Janet E. Petro is an American engineer and civil servant serving since 2021 as the 11th director of the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). From January 20, 2025, to July 9, 2025, Petro served as the acting administrator of NASA. When then-NASA administrator Bill Nelson appointed her KSC director on June 1, 2021, Petro made history as the first woman to hold the position. She assumed the role of acting administrator on January 20, 2025, following her appointment by President Donald Trump, also becoming the first woman to hold that role.