Florida Governor Rick Scott selected Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Janet Petro as one of three inductees for the 2018 Florida Women’s Hall of Fame. The Florida Commission on the Status of Women recommended Petro among ten other nominees.
The Commission selects candidates for their significant contributions to the improvement of life for women and all Florida citizens. They are pioneers who have broken down barriers, created new opportunities, and championed issues to better Florida and its people. The Governor customarily selects up to three individuals for induction into the Hall of Fame each year.
“The Florida Commission on the Status of Women, in the true spirit of celebration, is proud to honor these outstanding women who have had such a meaningful impact on our state and its history,” said Commission Chair Lady Dhyana Ziegler, Ph.D., DCJ. “This year marks the thirty-sixth year of the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame and the Commission is proud to ensure that the stories of Florida women will be shared for future generations.”
Petro was appointed to the deputy director position at KSC in April 2007. She shares responsibility with the center director in managing the Kennedy team of civil service and contractor employees, determining and implementing center policy and managing and executing Kennedy missions and agency program responsibilities.
“I can’t think of no one more deserving of this honor,” said Bob Cabana, director of Kennedy Space Center. “She has been a role model for women throughout her career and has played a critical role in our success in building a premier multi-user spaceport in Florida. Janet has been integral to making our center the Bridge to the Future and all of us at KSC are proud to see her receive this recognition.”
As Kennedy transitioned into a multi-user spaceport, Petro led cross agency initiatives with the Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Air Force to streamline government processes and support commercial space operations, to increase government efficiency and limit redundancy.
Petro began her career as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army after graduating in 1981 from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, with a Bachelor of Science in engineering. She served in the U.S. Army’s aviation branch. She also holds a Master of Science in business administration from Boston University’s Metropolitan College.
Prior to joining NASA, Petro served in various management positions for Science Applications International Corp., also known as SAIC, and McDonnell Douglas Aerospace Corporation.
The Florida Women’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held in Orlando this September in conjunction with the Florida Chamber Foundation’s 2018 Future of Florida Forum. Honorees are immortalized on an honorary wall in the Florida Capitol.
