Gregory L. Robinson (1960 - )

Gregory L. Robinson experienced the challenges of desegregation in his Pittsylvania County schools, where he was also encouraged by dedicated and supportive teachers to further his love of math and science. With a football scholarship to Virginia Union University, he earned a degree in math along with a dual degree in electrical engineering at Howard University in 1983. Inspired by the experiences of several classmates, Robinson later joined the staff of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He held various leadership positions at Goddard Space Flight Center, Glenn Research Center, and at NASA headquarters in the Science Mission Directorate. He has helped develop satellites to study the sun and systems for the space shuttle program and for missions to Mars.

In 2018, NASA named Robinson director for the James Webb Space Telescope Program. A massive undertaking that included international teams of more than 10,000 scientists, engineers, and others, the telescope project faced technical difficulties and was behind schedule and over budget. Robinson’s leadership enabled the completion of NASA’s most complex space science observatory with the launch in December 2021 of the Webb telescope. This immensely powerful telescope has provided stunning data and discoveries about our solar system, the formation of stars and planets, and the evolution of galaxies in ways that have never before been possible. Robinson retired to his home in Manassas in July 2022, but continues to share his leadership strategies as a lecturer at Columbia University. Throughout his career Robinson has received numerous honors, including being named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2022.

Nominated by Tony R. King, Prince George County.


2024 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History honoree, Library of Virginia and Dominion Energy.