Leadership at 17,500 mph
Five leaders. Two astronauts. One commercial space pioneer. Here’s the quick guide to the people who have steered America’s civil space program since 2005.
How we counted
This list covers the five most recent numbered, Senate-confirmed administrators, newest first. Acting administrators are noted separately below.
Current administrator
Sworn in Dec. 18, 2025
An entrepreneur, pilot and commercial astronaut, Isaacman founded payment company Shift4 and co-founded military aviation firm Draken International. He commanded Inspiration4, the first all-civilian orbital mission, then led Polaris Dawn and performed the first commercial spacewalk.
14th administrator
Tenure May 3, 2021–Jan. 20, 2025
A longtime Florida congressman and senator, Nelson flew aboard space shuttle Columbia in 1986. His NASA term included Artemis I, the launch and deployment of the James Webb Space Telescope, the DART planetary-defense test and a major expansion of the Artemis Accords.
13th administrator
Tenure Apr. 23, 2018–Jan. 20, 2021
A former Oklahoma congressman and Navy combat pilot, Bridenstine launched the Artemis program and expanded NASA’s commercial lunar partnerships. During his tenure, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program returned astronaut launches to American soil.
12th administrator
Tenure July 17, 2009–Jan. 19, 2017
A retired Marine Corps major general and four-time space shuttle astronaut, Bolden piloted the mission that deployed the Hubble Space Telescope. He led NASA through the shuttle’s retirement and the growth of commercial crew transportation.
11th administrator
Tenure Apr. 14, 2005–Jan. 20, 2009
An aerospace engineer and former NASA chief engineer, Griffin previously led the Space Department at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory. He guided the agency’s Vision for Space Exploration and the early Constellation era.