Rosa Avalos-Warren, 2021

Rosa Avalos-Warren has recently become the Near Space Network – Network Director for Robotics and Launch vehicle missions at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. She continues to work in an acting role as a Human Spaceflight Mission Manager for the Artemis program. She formerly managed the Communications and Tracking Network integration efforts for space vehicles associated with the International Space Station and Commercial Crew Programs.  To date, she’s led over 25 missions for flights to the International Space Station and worked on SpaceX’s Demo-2, Crew-1 and upcoming Crew-2 missions, as part of the Commercial Crew Program.

Before joining Human Space Flight Avalos-Warren worked as a project manager in launch and flight operations at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility where she provided telemetry support as well as range support to Rocket Lab and multiple Air Surveillance-HEOMD (Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate) projects.  Prior to working at Wallops Avalos-Warren worked for NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) as a contractor supporting the ISS Program as a Mechanical and Operations Engineer in addition to a multitude of other engineering and management roles.

Avalos-Warren has been recognized for her excellent work, ranging from internal NASA awards to professional societies and organizations such as the Great Minds in STEM and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. NASA has awarded Avalos-Warren a number of awards including the Space Flight Awareness Team Award for her work on restructuring ISS flight rules.  Her STEM outreach abroad and in the United States has also earned her the recognition from former NASA Administrator, Charles Bolden.  A native of Lima, Peru, Avalos-Warren is extremely active in mentoring and participatingin various outreach initiatives including programs to talk to students about increasing the role of women in STEM.

Outside of work Avalos-Warren mentors and participates in various outreach programs as a TEDx Speaker and has successfully participated in various programs for the United States Department of State including talking to students in countries such as Peru, Mexico, Australia, Malta, and Latvia. In each of these programs, Avalos-Warren has been recognized by the Ambassadors of each country for her inspiring story.  Avalos-Warren earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and her Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rice University.