Mary E. Kicza

Mary E. Kicza is the NOAA Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services. NOAA Satellite and Information Service is dedicated to providing timely access to global environmental data from satellites and other sources to promote, protect, and enhance the Nation’s economy, security, environment, and quality of life. In this role, Ms. Kicza leads the acquisition and operation of the Nation’s civil operational environmental satellite system. She also leads efforts for research and development of products and programs to archive and provide access to a variety of Earth observations via three national data centers.

Ms. Kicza is a leader in the international Earth observation community, serving as Chair of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites Strategic Implementation Team. In this capacity, she leads efforts to coordinate global satellite-based observations among international space agency partners to further the development of a Global Earth Observation System of Systems. In addition, Ms. Kicza serves as the Co-Chair of the NOAA Observing Systems Council, a group which coordinates observing systems requirements and provides resource recommendations for NOAA’s observation platforms. She is also a member of the NOAA Executive Council, NOAA’s executive decision making body.

Before coming to NOAA, Ms. Kicza was the Associate Deputy Administrator for Systems Integration at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As a senior leader within NASA, she was responsible for assuring that the mission and mission support elements were effectively aligned and integrated. She served previously as the Associate Administrator for Biological/Physical Research, the Associate Center Director for Goddard Space Flight Center, the Assistant Associate Administrator for Space Science, and the Deputy Director of the Solar System Exploration Division. Ms. Kicza began her career as an engineer at McClellan Air Force Base in California, before joining NASA in 1982 as a lead engineer supporting the Atlas Centaur and Shuttle Centaur launch vehicles.

Ms. Kicza has served with distinction in a variety of technical, managerial, and leadership posts, supporting the development, launch, and operation of satellite systems as well as multi-faceted research and development programs. She has significant experience in building and maintaining effective relationships with the Office of Management and Budget, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Defense Department, Congress, the aerospace industry, and a diverse research community. Ms. Kicza has earned two SES Meritorious Service Awards, NASA’s Distinguished Service and Scientific Achievement Medal, and numerous other awards.

Ms. Kicza received her Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from California State University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Florida Institute of Technology.