WASHINGTON – NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a world-renowned center for robotic space exploration, is preparing for a leadership transition as Laurie Leshin announces her resignation effective June 1, 2025. David Gallagher, a seasoned JPL veteran with over three decades of experience, has been appointed as the new director to lead the laboratory into its next era of discovery and innovation.
Laurie Leshin, who has served as JPL’s director since May 2022, leaves behind a remarkable legacy marked by scientific breakthroughs, technological milestones, and resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges. A distinguished geochemist and space scientist, Leshin was the first woman to hold the director’s post at JPL, which is managed by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for NASA.
During her three-year tenure, Leshin oversaw the launch and development of numerous high-profile missions, including the Europa Clipper, Psyche, SPHEREx, EMIT, SWOT, PREFIRE, and the NASA-Indian Earth satellite NISAR, scheduled for launch in June 2025. Under her guidance, JPL also advanced the asteroid-hunting NEO Surveyor mission and the trio of CADRE lunar rovers, while delivering critical technology demonstrations such as the Coronagraph Instrument for NASA’s upcoming Roman Space Telescope.
Leshin’s leadership extended beyond mission successes. She navigated the laboratory through the COVID-19 pandemic’s lingering effects and managed the response to the devastating California wildfires in January 2025. The fires threatened the lab’s safety, forcing an unprecedented emergency plan that temporarily shifted control of the Deep Space Network (DSN) – the vital global system communicating with spacecraft beyond Earth orbit – to Goldstone, California. Despite the crisis, JPL’s fire department and local firefighters worked tirelessly to protect the facility, though approximately 200 JPL employees lost their homes.
Reflecting on her decision to step down, Leshin stated on social media that it was a difficult but necessary choice for her, her family, and the lab. She will remain at Caltech as the Bren Professor of Geochemistry and Planetary Science and continue contributing as a co-investigator on instruments aboard NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover.
David Gallagher, who currently serves as JPL’s Associate Director for Strategic Integration, will assume the directorship on June 1. With 36 years of experience at JPL, Gallagher brings a deep institutional knowledge and a steady leadership style. His career highlights include managing the Advanced Optical Systems Program Office, serving as deputy director for Astronomy, Physics, and Space Technology, and leading the team that built the Wide Field/Planetary Camera 2 – a key instrument that corrected the Hubble Space Telescope’s vision.
Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro praised both leaders in a statement: “Laurie Leshin’s leadership at JPL has been nothing short of extraordinary. She brought a sharp scientific mind, a strong sense of purpose, and a clear vision that helped propel the lab forward during a pivotal time.” Petro added, “I’m equally confident in Dave Gallagher’s ability to lead JPL’s next chapter. He brings decades of experience, a steady hand, and a deep understanding of what makes JPL unique.”
Gallagher expressed enthusiasm about the opportunities ahead, emphasizing JPL’s critical role in advancing NASA’s space exploration agenda. “We have exciting opportunities ahead, helping to advance our nation’s space agenda and a fantastic team to help realize them,” he said.
JPL is a federally funded research and development center operated by Caltech in Pasadena, California. It is best known for its robotic missions that have explored Mars, Jupiter’s moons, asteroids, and Earth itself. The lab currently supports active missions such as the Mars rovers Curiosity and Perseverance, the Ingenuity helicopter that has completed 72 flights on Mars, and the James Webb Space Telescope.
The laboratory also plays a pivotal role in NASA’s Artemis campaign, which aims to return humans to the Moon and prepare for crewed missions to Mars. JPL’s expertise in spacecraft design, mission operations, and cutting-edge science instrumentation is integral to these ambitious goals.
Leshin’s tenure was not without difficulties. The Mars Sample Return mission, a complex and costly endeavor to bring Martian soil samples back to Earth, has faced technical and budgetary challenges. The California wildfires underscored the vulnerability of even the most advanced facilities to natural disasters. Additionally, budget uncertainties continue to loom over NASA and JPL, with potential impacts on future projects.
Despite these hurdles, the laboratory’s resilience and innovation remain strong. Leshin highlighted JPL’s achievements, including saving the Voyager spacecraft multiple times, the historic Ingenuity flights, and the discovery of potential ancient biomarkers on Mars by Perseverance. She expressed confidence that these accomplishments will continue under Gallagher’s leadership.
As Laurie Leshin steps down, her impact on JPL’s scientific and technological progress is clear. David Gallagher’s appointment signals continuity and stability for the laboratory as it embarks on new missions and technological frontiers.
With a legacy of exploration spanning decades, JPL remains at the forefront of humanity’s quest to understand the cosmos. Under Gallagher’s guidance, the lab is poised to continue pushing the boundaries of science, technology, and discovery – inspiring generations to come.
