Dr. Ellen Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman to go to space (1993) and the first Hispanic director of the Johnson Space Center (2013-2018). She has a bachelor’s in physics from San Diego State University and a master’s/Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Stanford University. She has traveled to space four times and is listed as a co-inventor on three patents. She has been an outstanding role model and education advocate giving over 300 presentations to inspire women and minorities to pursue science, technology, engineering, and math degrees. Multiple schools have been named in her honor, and she received many awards including NASA’s Distinguished Service Medal and the Presidential Distinguished Rank of the Senior Executive Service. In 2018, she was inducted into the International Air and Space Hall of Fame. She serves on multiple boards including the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the National Science Board.
