Amit Kshatriya, an Indian-origin space expert with over two decades of service at NASA, has been appointed as the associate administrator of the US space agency.
This role is the highest-ranking civil service position within NASA and places him at the forefront of the United States’ space exploration plans, including the ambitious Artemis mission to return to the Moon and prepare for future missions to Mars.
His appointment was announced on Wednesday, September 3, by Acting NASA Administrator Sean P. Duffy. Kshatriya had been serving as the deputy in charge of the Moon to Mars Program under NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at the agency’s headquarters in Washington. In that role, he oversaw programme planning and execution for crewed missions to the Moon as part of the Artemis campaign.
“Amit has spent more than two decades as a dedicated public servant at NASA, working to advance American leadership in space. Under his leadership, the agency will chart a bold vision to return to the Moon during President Trump’s term,” said Duffy. “Amit’s knowledge, integrity, and unwavering commitment to pioneering a new era of exploration make him uniquely qualified to lead our agency as associate administrator. With Amit we’ll continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible.”
The promotion highlights the renewed focus of the US government on space leadership, particularly as global competition grows. It also reflects the Trump Administration’s commitment to returning American astronauts to the Moon before any other country, especially China, an official press release from NASA stated.
This Friday, listen to “Houston We Have a Podcast” to hear how we’ll execute on President Trump’s vision for American space dominance! https://t.co/CS5N40N29l
— NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy (@SecDuffyNASA) September 3, 2025
Kshatriya’s appointment is being seen as a strategic step to place the Artemis programme at the centre of NASA’s goals during the current administration.
Born in Wisconsin, Kshatriya studied at the California Institute of Technology and later earned an advanced degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He is also one of a very small group — only about 100 people in history — who have served as mission control flight director. His background includes both technical expertise and leadership experience, making him well-suited to guide NASA during a pivotal period for human space exploration.
