NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Goddard Associate Director Nancy Abell. Credit: NASA/Pat Izzo
> Larger image Ms. Nancy Abell is Goddard’s associate director. In this role, she has oversight responsibility for all human capital, institutional and business management activities at the center. Abell has spent her entire career at Goddard. She began her service to NASA as a summer intern in 1968 and became a permanent employee in 1972, initially serving as a financial analyst. She gained extensive experience in resources and financial management at the center. She was promoted to financial manager in 1979, accountable for the financial resources of the Space Sciences Directorate.

In 1981, Abell became a senior analyst in the Office of the Comptroller, responsible for independent review, assessment and analysis of programmatic and resources requirements for major Goddard programs. In 1990, she was named chief of the Administration and Resources Management Office in the Space Sciences Directorate and served as the senior resources authority for the directorate. Five years later, Abell was named the center's deputy comptroller. She became Goddard’s chief financial officer in July 1998, responsible for the development, implementation and administration of Goddard’s system of resources management and financial control. In June 2007, Abell was appointed to the position of Goddard’s associate director.

Abell holds a bachelor's degree in business and public administration from the University of Maryland at College Park and a master’s degree in general administration from the University of Maryland, University College. She is a senior fellow in the Council for Excellence in Government.