Gregory Robinson

Gregory L. Robinson is the Director for the James Webb Space Telescope Program in the NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD).

Previously, he was the Deputy Associate Administrator for Programs, responsible for assessing NASA programs as the projects and institutions for technical and cost effectiveness, quality, and performance. He also coordinates program and project content with the other NASA Mission Directorates, and federal agencies in which SMD has partnerships. SMD has a portfolio of 97 missions in formulation, development, and operations.

Mr. Robinson served as Deputy Center Director at NASA’s John H. Glenn Research Center (GRC), Cleveland Ohio. Mr. Robinson was responsible for planning, organizing, and controlling the effective accomplishment of all missions assigned to the Center. GRC is engaged in a diverse program of research, technology advancement, and project management related to aeronautical propulsion, space power propulsion, cryogenic fluids, microgravity science, expendable launch vehicles, space communications, materials, structures, instrumentation and controls, computational fluid dynamics, and electronics.

Mr. Robinson served as NASA Deputy Chief Engineer (2005-2013); He had primary responsibility and authority for oversight of Agency engineering work, including the design, manufacture, testing, operation, training, and maintenance practices and products. Additionally, he provided policy for and oversight of the readiness and execution of all NASA programs to ensure development efforts and mission operations were planned and conducted with sound engineering and proper programmatic controls.

Mr. Robinson served as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acting National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) Deputy Assistant Administrator, Systems (2011-2012). He led the acquisition, and management of all NOAA satellite flight and ground acquisitions.

Prior to Mr. Robinson’s reassignment to NASA Headquarters in 1999, he spent 11 years in various leadership positions at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Among his time with NASA, Mr. Robinson has received numerous individual and group performance awards, including the Presidential Rank, Distinguished Executive; and Meritorious Senior Professionals and Executives Award. He was also named one of TIME's 100 Most Influential people in 2022.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Math from Virginia Union University; a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Howard University; and a Master of Business Administration from Averett College. He also attended Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, Senior Executive Fellows Program; and the Federal Executive Institute (Leadership for a Democratic Society).