Wyche 'humbled and honored' to be named permanent director of Johnson Space Center

Vanessa Wyche has become the permanent director of the Johnson Space Center, NASA announced.

U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Houston) said that Wyche was the ideal candidate to lead the organization. 

"With her deep knowledge and passion, she is highly qualified to lead the home of NASA’s human spaceflight mission," she said.  

Wyche now oversees the home of the nation's Astronaut Corps, Mission Control Center, International Space Station, Orion and Gateway programs and its nearly 11,000 civil service and contractor employees.

"I'm humbled and honored to be chosen to lead the more than 10,000 employees at Johnson Space Center, who work each day to enhance scientific and technological knowledge via space exploration to benefit all of humankind," Wyche told KTRK. “As the home to America's astronaut corps, International Space Station mission operations, the Orion and Gateway programs and a host of future space developments, Johnson is a world leader in human space exploration and is playing a key role in the next giant leaps in American excellence in space. I look forward to working with everyone as we push forward to the moon and inspire a new generation of explorers to reach for the stars."

She previously served as JSC's deputy director and its acting director and is a 31-year NASA veteran.

A South Carolina native, Wyche holds a Bachelor of Science in engineering and Master of Science in bioengineering from Clemson University and is the first African American woman to lead a NASA center.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said the appointment of Wyche would help the program continue on their space missions. 

"Vanessa (is an) exceptional leader who will help propel NASA forward as we venture farther out into the cosmos than ever before," Nelson said.

NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy echoed Nelson’s sentiments, adding that Wyche’s experience with the program was a tremendous asset.  

"Vanessa is a tenacious leader who has broken down barriers throughout her career," Melroy said. "Vanessa's more than three decades at NASA and program experience in almost all of the human spaceflight programs at Johnson is an incredible asset to the agency. In the years to come, I'm confident that Houston will continue to lead the way in human spaceflight."