The launch of Sputnik 1 in October 1957 marked the beginning of the space era and of the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. In the 21st century, there are many more participants in space, including countries such as India and China, and commercial companies such as SpaceX. How will the United States fare in a crowded outer space? Join us for a discussion of this complex topic with Lori Garver, former Deputy Administrator of NASA.
Lori Garver is the Founder and CEO of Earthrise Alliance, a philanthropy that creates meaningful earth science content from satellite data to address climate change. She serves as an Executive in Residence at Bessemer Venture Partners, and is a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard’s Kennedy School. Garver served as Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from 2009 - 2013 and led the agency’s transition team for President-Elect Obama. Previous senior positions have included General Manager of the Air Line Pilots Association, Vice President at the Avascent Group, and Associate Administrator for Policy and Plans at NASA. Lori is a Co-Founder of the Brooke Owens Fellowship, an internship and mentorship program for collegiate women and gender minorities pursuing degrees in aerospace fields. Her memoir, Escaping Gravity, has been published in the spring of 2022. Garver is the recipient of numerous honors and awards including the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award from Women in Aerospace,three NASA Distinguished Service Medals and an Honorary Doctorate from Colorado College. She holds a B.A. in Political Economy from Colorado College and an M.A. in Science, Technology and Public Policy from the George Washington University.