Dr Camille Wardrop Alleyne is an American aerospace executive, rocket engineer, space scientist, internationally acclaimed speaker, writer, educational leader and science ambassador whose accomplishments in the field of space exploration have been extraordinary. In the highly technical fields of science and engineering, where women are underrepresented, she is one of the most recognised in aerospace engineering and one of the few women of colour to have served in senior leadership at NASA.
Dr Alleyne is the Founder and CEO of Arusha Space, a global space solutions and consulting firm that uses space to enable sustainable and socioeconomic development. Prior to this, she had a 28-year career advancing the areas of aerospace and space technology development at NASA. She was a leading architect for several of NASA’s commercialisation strategies, enabling billion-dollar space economies in low earth orbit and on the moon. She was the first African American to lead a major human space flight program at NASA. Throughout her career, Dr Alleyne also provided technical and executive leadership to over 100 of NASA’s earth, planetary, heliophysics and astrophysics science missions, managed International Space Station microgravity research and defined spacecraft requirements for the Orion crew module. Dr Alleyne is renowned for her work on global STEM education for girls, which she does through The Brightest Stars Foundation, founded in 2007. This is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to educating, empowering and inspiring young women to be future leaders through the study of science, math and technology. Dr. Alleyne has travelled the world advocating for and promoting girls’ education in STEM and has impacted the lives of thousands of young people globally.
Dr Alleyne holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Howard University, a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Florida A&M University, a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Houston. Dr Alleyne, born in Trinidad and Tobago, is a licensed Private Pilot whose accomplishments include being a Finalist in the NASA Astronaut Selection Program. She serves on several public and private sector boards and has received numerous awards and commendations from national and international organisations, including several Achievement
medals for her contributions to NASA’s missions. She serves as a space and science public diplomat for the US State Dept Speaker’s Program and is also recognised as one of the Caribbean’s icons in Science and Technology.