Gregory Robinson

Renowned Engineer & Inspirational Leadership Speaker; Former Program Director of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope; TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2022

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Manassas, VA, USA
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Gregory Robinson Biography

Gregory Robinson is a widely respected figure in the field of aerospace engineering, formerly serving as the director of NASA's "James Webb Space Telescope" (Webb). Over a distinguished 33-year career at NASA, Robinson has made significant contributions to space exploration, particularly through his transformative leadership on the Webb project, which he led to a dramatic turnaround, improving its efficiency from 55% to 95%. Before his pivotal role with the Webb, he was the Deputy Associate Administrator for Programs in NASA's Science Mission Directorate, where he played a critical role in optimizing program integration and testing efficiencies.

His tenure at NASA included multiple high-profile positions such as Deputy Center Director at NASA's Glenn Research Center, where he was a key figure in managing the center’s contributions to aeronautics and space research. From 2005 to 2013, Robinson served as NASA's Deputy Chief Engineer, ensuring technical excellence across all of NASA's missions. He also played a vital role in overseeing 114 missions for the Science Mission Directorate and was involved in 21 shuttle launches following the Columbia Shuttle accident.

In addition to his extensive career at NASA, Robinson has contributed significantly to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), serving as the acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. Here, he was instrumental in the acquisition and management of NOAA's satellite systems, optimizing their effectiveness for environmental monitoring and data collection. Currently, Robinson is a faculty member at Columbia University, where he lectures on information and knowledge strategy and the management of large, complex projects. His career is a testament to his expertise in satellite systems, engineering management, and space mission oversight, underscoring his impact on innovation in space exploration and leadership in managing challenging aerospace projects.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 06/20/2024.

Gregory Robinson Speaking Topics

  • Taking on Your Own Moonshot

    Are you looking to inspire your organization to reach for the stars, conquer a huge challenge, or simply see the value of teamwork, open communication and innovative thinking? Let NASA veteran Gregory Robinson guide you on a journey to the far reaches of space and limitless human potential, going behind-the-scenes at NASA against a backdrop of awe-inspiring photos from the James Webb Space Telescope. Sharing the story of how he led a team that transformed a failing program into one of humankind’s greatest achievements, Robinson provides universal lessons on overcoming challenges, building trust and collaboration, enhancing communication and more. Perfect for “all hands” meetings, kick offs, product launches or any event in which you want to inspire your group to achieve great things together.

  • A NASA-Inspired Approach to Leading Innovation in Any Organization

    Today, most organizations must innovate or fall behind. But what’s the key to leading innovation and overcoming challenges and failures? It isn’t just about hiring very talented people. At NASA, Gregory Robinson worked with, led and managed some of the world’s most accomplished scientists and engineers. Instead, he says, it’s about prioritizing relationship-building, creativity, knowledge-sharing and “open communication without fear.” Robinson emphasizes soft skills like knowing when to lead and when to support, understanding how to collaborate, problem solving, and being able to reach out beyond your team to find answers and fresh thinking. Using real-life examples from his 33-year history at NASA, set against a backdrop that takes you a million miles from Earth, Greg Robinson shows how the human element is more critical than ever to driving transformation and achieving our most ambitious goals.

  • From Sharecroppers’ Son to TIME’s Most Influential People List

    Just being an engineer in a time when few Blacks were in STEM professions would have been an achievement. Just getting into NASA—where the ranks of Black professionals were few and far between would have been an inspiring success story. But Gregory Robinson’s against-all-odds journey to leading the James Webb Space Telescope program had a starting point worthy of Hollywood. Born the ninth of eleven children to tobacco sharecroppers in southern Virginia, where the legacy of Jim Crow was still strong, Robinson attended segregated schools until the age of 10. In this inspiring talk, HBCU graduate Robinson shares how he went from the tobacco fields to being named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people– and how lessons learned through humble beginnings propelled his much-honored career.

  • Managing Global Teams in Turbulent Times

    When Greg Robinson took over the leadership of the James Webb Space Telescope, it was years behind schedule, billions over budget, tarnished by engineering failures and waning stakeholder confidence. The trouble didn’t end there. COVID, hurricanes, and other obstacles soon stood in the way of success. Still, Robinson managed to bring together 20,000 people in 29 countries and 14 U.S. states to not only turn the program around, but nearly double its efficiency. In this inspiring talk, highlighted by breathtaking images from Webb, Robinson shares how trust, communication and effective leadership can bring teams together from across the globe to overcome obstacles and achieve your organization’s moonshot.

Gregory Robinson Videos

  • Gregory Robinson - Images From James Webb Space Telescope | The Daily Show
    NASA Program Director Gregory Robinson discusses the advancements the James Webb Space Telescope has compared to the Hubble Telescope, and how these...
  • Gregory Robinson | Charter Day 2023 Honoree
  • TIME100 Impact Awards: Gregory L. Robinson Speech
    About 400 guests gathered atop the National Gallery Singapore on Sunday for the latest TIME100 Impact Awards.

Speaker Lists Featuring Gregory Robinson

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Gregory Robinson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Taking on Your Own Moonshot, A NASA-Inspired Approach to Leading Innovation in Any Organization, From Sharecroppers’ Son to TIME’s Most Influential People List and Managing Global Teams in Turbulent Times. The estimated speaking fee range to book Gregory Robinson for your event is $30,000 - $50,000. Gregory Robinson generally travels from Manassas, VA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Leland Melvin, Sylvia Acevedo, Daymond John, Kenneth Harris II and José M. Hernández. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Gregory Robinson for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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