Lori Garver

Lori Garver was named a Belfer Center Senior Fellow in January 2022.

Garver is a leading figure in the U.S. space program. She was the principal civil and commercial advisor on aerospace issues to three presidential candidates and led the NASA transition team for President-elect Obama. Nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Garver served as the Deputy Administrator of the space agency from 2009 - 2013. Known as an architect of the new era of commercial partnerships that are allowing SpaceX to carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station, Garver pioneered innovations that are transforming NASA.

Garver is CEO of Earthrise Alliance, a philanthropic organization, founded to more fully utilize satellite data to address climate change. She serves as an Executive in Residence at Bessemer Venture Partners and is a member of the Board of Directors of Hydrosat. Lori is a former board member of Maxar Technologies, General Manager of the Air Line Pilots Association, Vice President of the Avascent Group, and Executive Director of the National Space Society.

She is the founder of the Brooke Owens Fellowship, an internship and mentorship program for collegiate women interested in pursuing aerospace careers. Garver is the recipient of the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award for Women in Aerospace and has been awarded three NASA Distinguished Service Medals. She holds a B.A. in Political Economy from Colorado College and an M.A. in Science, Technology and Public Policy from the George Washington University.

Garver writes and speaks extensively on space issues and has authored opinion-editorials that have recently been published in the Washington Post and Scientific American. Her memoir, Escaping Gravity, will be released in June 2022.