Executive Council

Dr. Laurie Leshin, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory since May 2022, is a distinguished geochemist and space scientist with extensive leadership experience in academia and government, including senior NASA positions.

Larry D. James has served as Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer since 2013. As the Laboratory's Chief Executive Officer, he is responsible for the day-to-day management of JPL's resources and activities.

Dave Gallagher is currently Associate Director for Strategic Integration at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Previously, he was the Director and Deputy Director for Astronomy, Physics, and Space Technology and before that he was manager of JPL's Advanced Optical Systems Program Office.

Leslie Livesay, JPL’s Associate Director for Flight Projects and Mission Success, has over 30 years of experience in autonomous space exploration. Previously, she was the director for Astronomy and Physics.

Jan Chodas is the Director for Planetary Science. Prior to this role, Jan was the Project Manager for the Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa, with the goal of exploring Europa’s habitability and looking for the ingredients for life.

Suzanne Dodd is JPL’s Director for the Interplanetary Network Directorate (IND). The IND is the home organization of NASA’s Deep Space Network and Multimission Ground Systems & Services programs. Dodd is also the Project Manager for the Voyager Interstellar Mission, a role she has had since 2010.

Mr. James Graf is Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Director for the Earth Science and Technology Directorate. He manages the development and operations of the Earth science space and airborne missions, the advancements in Earth science research and applications, and the creation of relevant science data systems.

Michael Greene is Director for Communications and Education at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In this capacity, he oversees the laboratory's multiple communications activities in media relations, informal and formal education, television, Internet, internal communications and public engagement services.

Dr. Tom Cwik is Chief Technologist for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In this role, he provides strategic leadership for research in advanced technology and serves as the focal point for technology interactions with NASA, companies, universities and the external research community.

Cozette M. Hart is NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Director for Human Resources Directorate. Hart is responsible for developing and delivering programs and services that help attract, reward, develop, engage and retain a highly skilled, diverse workforce of more than 5,000 employees.

Neela Rajendra builds and strengthens bridges from science to action in behavioral and organizational environments, with a focus on identifying and maximizing the ways that diversity, equity, and inclusion help organizations excel.

Sammy Kayali is the Chief Financial Officer and Manager of Laboratory Operations Integration at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He was appointed this position in July 2020.

Matthew Decker is the Chief Data and Information Officer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He was appointed to this position on April 2023 and is responsible for providing strategic focus and guidance for Information Technology (IT), software solutions and recommendations, data and analytics, and advanced computing applied across the laboratory and mission support.

Jennifer Lum became Caltech’s General Counsel on September 1, 2019.  Lum joined Caltech in 2010 as Deputy General Counsel.

Martin (Marty) Herman is the Director for the Office of Safety and Mission Success at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He was appointed to this position in July 2022. Prior to this, he served as the Division Manager for Instruments.

Keyur Patel was appointed as the Director for Astronomy and Physics in April 2021. He has been a member of the professional staff at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for almost 35 years and has served over 10 years in executive management at JPL.

Dr. Mark Simons is Chief Scientist for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In this role, he is responsible for leadership of the scientific and research community at JPL, and serves as the focal point for interactions with universities and the external research community.

Charles Whetsel is Director for Engineering and Science at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Before becoming director, Whetsel served as manager of the Systems Engineering Division. Previously he was the manager of the Program Formulation Office in the Mars Exploration Directorate at JPL.