Trudy Kortes

Trudy Kortes serves as Director of Technology Demonstrations for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, managing more than $300M annually to accomplish key technology advancements for future science and human exploration missions. Under her leadership, NASA has successfully demonstrated advanced technologies including laser relay communications, the Deep Space Atomic Clock and investments onboard the Mars Perseverance rover. In July 2024 she was announced as interim director of space sustainability. She has 30 years of experience at NASA holding various institutional and programmatic positions at NASA’s Johnson, Ames and Glenn Centers and NASA Headquarters. She is a federally certified program and project manager and lives in Westlake, OH with her husband, 3 children and dog, Buster.