Ezinne Uzo-Okoro

Ezinne Uzo-Okoro is a Senior Fellow at Harvard University's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.

Dr. Uzo-Okoro has two decades of experience in government, in both NASA missions and policy. Prior to her fellowship, she drove innovation in space and aeronautics as the White House Assistant Director for Space Policy where her work included earth observations, orbital debris, microgravity research in low earth orbit, space weather, in-space servicing assembly and manufacturing, aeronautics, and space science. Previously, Dr. Uzo-Okoro played a pivotal role in more than 60 missions and programs at NASA. During her 17-year tenure there, her technical expertise and strategic vision were essential to advancing the frontiers of space exploration, spanning earth observations, planetary science, heliophysics, astrophysics, human exploration, and space communications missions.

Dr. Uzo-Okoro earned an undergraduate degree in computer science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and holds master’s degrees from Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Harvard University. She made history as the first Black woman to earn a doctorate in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT. She has received several NASA awards and the 2023 Commercial Space Federation Commercial Space Policy award. Dr. Uzo-Okoro's story is profiled in President George W. Bush’s book, "Out of Many, One: Portraits of America's Immigrants."