Sandra Cauffman

Sandra Cauffman, Deputy Director, Astrophysics Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters

Sandra Cauffman (born May 10, 1962) is a Costa Rican-American (born in Costa Rica) specialist in electrical engineering and physics. She is known for her work at NASA in different projects. Her profile has been highlighted by UN Women for being a positive example for women, especially, youth and children.[1] Cauffman worked for 25 years at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD in missions such as the mission to Mars MAVEN, and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite GOES-R. She is currently the Deputy Director of the Astrophysics Division within the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. She served as the Deputy Director for the Earth Science Division from May 2016 - October 2021. She served as Acting Director in the Earth Science Division from February 2019 to June 2020. Cauffman started as a contractor with NASA on February 1, 1988, and became a NASA employee February 11, 1991.[2] Cauffman is the first Costa Rican woman to lead a Mars-related mission.[3]

  1. ^ "Sandra Cauffman: From Costa Rica to Mars". Beijing+20. UN Women. 20 May 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Tica Sandra Cauffman asume alto cargo en NASA". La Nación (in Spanish). 23 May 2016. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
  3. ^ González, Andrea (4 November 2015). "Sandra Cauffman compartirá su valentía con líderes costarricenses". Revista Perfil (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 July 2016.