Donald Gregory James is an executive leader, a manager, a mentor, and a friend, father, and husband. He began his thirty-five year NASA career as a Presidential Management Intern at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Maryland, in 1982. In 1984, he transferred to NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, serving in roles of increasing responsibility and complexity, including public affairs, government and community relations, and education.

After the 1986 Challenger space shuttle tragedy, which affected him deeply, Donald chose to make a career at NASA. Asked to support the postaccident speaking tour of backup Teacher in Space Project astronaut Barbara Morgan, Donald was so inspired by the overwhelming love and support for America’s space program—and education—that he realized NASA was a special place where he could make a difference.

In 2014, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden selected Donald to serve as the agency’s associate administrator for education, where he led a team of civil servants and contractors organized to strengthen NASA’s and the nation’s future technical workforce. Donald retired from NASA on March 31, 2017.

Donald holds a BA in international relations from the University of Southern California. He was awarded a three-year graduate fellowship from the National Science Foundation to pursue his MA in international economic development from American University. He also studied economics and history at Cambridge University and attended Harvard’s Senior Executive Fellows program. He is the recipient of numerous awards and citations for exemplary service.