Awards & Recognition
★2025 National Space Trophy (Lifetime Achievement Award) from Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Foundation
★Forbes 50 Over 50: Entrepreneurs list (2022)
★U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame inductee (2021)
★Fellow of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
★Fellow of Society of Experimental Test Pilots
★Fellow of Royal Aeronautical Society
★Member of US National Academy of Engineering
Notable Facts
→One of only two women to ever command a Space Shuttle mission (STS-120 in 2007)
→Former NASA Deputy Administrator (2021-2025), first woman astronaut to hold this position
→Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel with over 200 combat hours in Desert Shield/Storm
→Currently serves on Venus Aerospace Board of Directors following revolutionary rocket engine breakthrough
→Has over 6,000 flight hours in more than 50 different aircraft
→Led critical strategy development for NASA's Moon to Mars program and NASA 2040
→Over 38 days in space across three Space Shuttle missions to build International Space Station