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.

Leslie Livesay, JPL’s Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, is responsible for the day-to-day management of JPL's resources and activities. During a career spanning more than 37 years at JPL, Livesay has managed teams in the development of technologies and flight systems for planetary, Earth science, and astrophysics missions.

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.

Keyur Patel was appointed Associate Director for Flight Projects and Mission Success in April 2024. He has been a member of the professional staff at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 1985 and in executive management since 2008.

Dr. Jonathan Lunine comes to JPL after 13 years as the David C. Duncan Professor in the Physical Sciences and 5 years as chair of the Department of Astronomy at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

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.

A JPL Engineering Fellow, Howard Eisen has over 36 years of experience at JPL in technical and leadership roles. Before becoming Chief Engineer in 2024, he served as the deputy associate director for Flight Projects and Mission Success, a role he continues.

Richard Cook is the Deputy Associate Director for Strategic Integration at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in which capacity he supports implementation of JPL’s Plan.

John Kelly was appointed chief financial officer and director for Laboratory Operations Integration in October 2024.

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.

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.

Dr. Todd Gaier was appointed director for Astronomy and Physics in April 2024. Prior to that, he served as the deputy director and chief technologist for Astronomy and Physics.

Roger Gibbs is Director for Engineering and Science at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Before becoming director, Roger’s previous assignment was the Deputy Director for the Engineering and Science Directorate.

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. 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.

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

Becky Macko is the Director for Human Resources at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). In this capacity, she provides strategic HR counsel and leadership to the Lab and develops programs that attract and retain JPL’s highly skilled and diverse workforce of more than 6,500 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.