Vanessa E. Wyche

Early life and education Wyche grew up in Conway, South Carolina. When she was a junior in high school, she attended the Governor's School for top students.

Career Wyche began her career at the Food and Drug Administration. She has led a team of 400 engineers and scientists that are working on how to send human explorers to Mars. She has also worked as the director of the Exploration Integration and Science Directorate at the Johnson Space Center.

On August 8, 2018, Vanessa Wyche was selected as the Johnson Space Center Deputy Director. Wyche is responsible for a range of human spaceflight activities, which includes development of human spacecraft, NASA astronaut selection and training, and mission control. She oversees commercialization of low-Earth orbit, and leads the Johnson Space Center's role in exploring the Moon and Mars with NASA's Artemis spacecraft. With Wyche serving as the director for Johnson Space Center, Johnson was recognized by Forbes and Statista as the Number 1 best employer among Texas' major employers.

In February 2025 Wyche was named acting Associate Administrator of NASA, the agency's highest-ranking civil servant position.

Awards and recognition Wyche has received the following awards: NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal Two NASA Achievement Medals Inducted into Thomas Green Clemson Academy of Engineers and Scientists at Clemson University (2019)

Personal life Wyche is married to George Wyche Jr. Esq., has one son, and currently lives in Houston.