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Biography
Growing up in Virginia Beach, Christyl Chamblee Johnson absorbed her parents' advice that she could achieve any goal she set for herself. While studying physics at Lincoln University, in Pennsylvania, she had an internship at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Langley Research Center, in Hampton, where she worked on laser systems for remote sensing of the atmosphere. After earning a B.S. from Lincoln in 1987 and an M.S. in electrical engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 1990, Johnson joined NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) as a lead engineer and project manager. Her knowledge and leadership skills led to positions overseeing various programs at Langley involved in developing advanced systems for a variety of missions. At NASA's headquarters she managed missions of the Office of Earth Science before becoming deputy in the Office of the Chief Engineer, and then joined the Office of the Administrator overseeing technical mission areas and operations at all ten field centers. She also continued her own education, earning a Ph.D. in systems engineering from The George Washington University, in Washington, D.C., in 2012.
After serving as executive director of the National Science and Technology Council at the White House in 2008–2010, Johnson became deputy director for technology and research investments at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. She shapes Goddard's missions of the future in planetary, astrophysics, heliophysics, and earth science, and leads the establishment of a portfolio of technology investments to enable those science missions.
Johnson is passionate about education and outreach and is an outspoken advocate for women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). She established a STEM Girls Night In overnight program for girls, and serves on the board of Women in Tech, an international organization fighting the gender gap in STEM fields.
2022 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History honoree, Library of Virginia and Dominion Energy.