Keith’s note: in addition to a note on NASA GSFC SED Directorate’s Christa Peters-Lidard retirement there is a section in this note about upcoming departures is mention of “Goddard For Life” a developing effort that will “provide a means for retirees, emeriti, and alumni to continue contributing through mentorship, research, or advisory roles, preserving institutional knowledge and promoting continuity.” Just a personal note: I seriously doubt that any NASA Center Director enjoys losing a huge chunk of their staff – their friends and coworkers – and that being ordered to implement these draconian layoffs is the hardest thing that they have ever had to do. I have been through a mass layoff personally at NASA and it sucks big time. Being ejected from the dream of a lifetime is gut wrenching. However, if nothing else, would you rather have someone you work with every day – someone who cares – trying to do the best by their people – or a political house plant mindlessly re-issuing White House edicts from on high? Just keep that in mind. (Full email below).
17 June 2025
Dear Colleagues:
I wanted to share that Dr. Christa Peters-Lidard, director of our Sciences and Exploration Directorate (SED), has announced her intent to retire from federal service later this summer after nearly 24 years of service to NASA and Goddard Space Flight Center.
Christa remains on board as we work to identify an acting SED director, and we’ll keep you posted as those plans develop.
Christa has held several roles here at Goddard getting her start as a physical scientist in the center’s Hydrological Sciences Branch, where she led research on land-atmosphere interactions with an emphasis on soil moisture remote sensing. She rose through the ranks quickly becoming chief of the Hydrological Sciences Laboratory and later deputy director of Hydrosphere, Biosphere, and Geophysics in Goddard’s Earth Sciences Division.
After serving as Goddard’s acting chief scientist, Christa became deputy director of the Sciences and Exploration Directorate and has served as the director since January 2023. Her time leading Goddard science has been marked by a number of incredible achievements to include OSIRIS-REx delivering a sample from the asteroid Bennu, the Parker Solar Probe “touching” the sun, the PACE and Landsat-9 launches, along with all the remarkable discoveries to date of the James Webb Space Telescope.
Among her many awards and accolades are the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, the Arthur S. Flemming Award, being elected as a fellow for both the American Meteorological Society and American Geophysical Union, and being elected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Christa – you’ve made an incredible impact in advancing science and discovery and you’ve been a tremendous champion for our science missions. Congratulations on your pending retirement and thank you so much for your service to NASA and Goddard!
Christa’s pending retirement is among many departures that we’ll see on center over the next several weeks and months as employees weigh the decision to take advantage of the voluntary separation programs currently offered by the agency. Bidding farewell to our colleagues – especially those who have served for decades and amassed amazing records of achievement – is difficult to do, especially during a time of rapid change and transformation. One of the ways we’re working to both honor our professionals for their work and provide opportunities for knowledge sharing is through a concept we’re developing known as Goddard For Life. Goddard For Life will provide a means for retirees, emeriti, and alumni to continue contributing through mentorship, research, or advisory roles, preserving institutional knowledge and promoting continuity. We’ll release more on this program as we develop the finer details.
Congratulations once again, Christa, and thank you for continuing to serve as we work through transition details. And, thanks for signing on early to our upcoming Goddard For Life program!
Makenzie
Dr. Makenzie Lystrup
Center Director
Dr. Peters-Lidard is the best of the best, everything you’d want in a dedicated, knowledgeable public servant. This is a major loss for NASA.
This obviously was not written by a handler.
Wow, Christa is a huge loss for GSFC.
Congrats on your well-deserved retirement Dr. Peters-Lidard!
Thank you for 24 incredible years of dedicated service to NASA and for your impactful contributions to the future of science!
“provide a means for retirees, emeriti, and alumni to continue contributing through mentorship, research, or advisory roles” I thought this was done through NASA civil servants ‘double-dipping’ as NASA contractors? I’m not sure they can afford it any longer with the budget cuts.
No, they’re basically talking about expanding the already existing emeritus program. They’re basically trying to give the old people something to do so they feel better about retiring (which they were not so subtly encouraged to do by the center director at the all hands). I’m not sure the emeriti are paid, but if they are it’s nothing like a full time employee. I would link to the nasa site with details about the current program but it’s a 404 now, of course.
Emeriti are not paid, and in fact Goddard just went through a round of reductions. Where in the past an emeritus position might last for years as an informal advisory role, it is now 1 year max and requires substantial justification and hard deliverables.
I worked with her on many occasions before I retired in Jan 2024. Very personable and professional and highly qualified. It’s a crazy time we live in and I extend my huge congratulations to Christa.