Leigh Gordon
Leigh Gordon is an accomplished mechanical engineer and aerospace leader with decades of experience in safety, mission assurance, and systems engineering. She most recently served as Vehicle Systems Department Manager for Safety & Mission Assurance at NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, where she played a critical role in ensuring the safety and success of complex spaceflight systems. Over the course of her career at NASA, Leigh contributed to major programs including the Space Shuttle and Artemis missions, and notably served as Chief Safety Officer for Solid Rocket Boosters, helping ensure mission readiness for Artemis II.
Leigh began her career at NASA in 1991 after earning her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from University of Alabama in Huntsville. With a strong foundation in manufacturing and operations, she built deep expertise working on solid rocket motors and large-scale aerospace systems. She later expanded her experience through roles with the Defense Contract Management Agency, strengthening her background in systems engineering and change management before returning to NASA to take on progressively senior leadership roles in safety and technical integration.
After retiring from NASA in 2026, Leigh transitioned into the defense sector, where she now serves in a business development and capture management role, focused on building strategic partnerships and expanding opportunities—particularly for small and women-owned businesses. Throughout her career, she has been a passionate advocate for mentoring and advancing women in engineering, committed to opening doors for the next generation. Her work reflects a deep dedication to safety, collaboration, and creating lasting impact in both aerospace and defense industries.
• University of Alabama in Huntsville- B.S.
• Association for the United States Army (AUSA)
• Women in Defense
• Hospice Support
What do you attribute your success to?
I would probably attribute my success to my father. He's always been really supportive. I'm adopted, and so is my brother, and we've both been quite successful, and my parents just always gave us every opportunity. He wanted us to learn, he took us different places, you know, that we could afford back in those days. We weren't rich like some, but he put us in every opportunity he could for us to learn. I didn't really know that I wanted to be an engineer. I knew I was very good at math and science, and I'm like, well, I don't know where I want to be when I grow up, but he says, well, here, take this test. He taught at a junior college, so he said, take this test, and let's just see what it does. It pretty much led me in that direction of engineering, and so that's kind of where I got my start. But I would have to say I had a couple of teachers when I was pretty young, like my 5th grade teacher, I would give a lot to her. She was so hard, I mean, it was the hardest teacher I'd ever had, and she made you work, but she knew what you were capable of, and she would not accept less. I thought she was so mean at the time, but so much appreciated later in life.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage them to not give up, to be who they are, and understand that women still probably have a ways to go within this field, even though you're seeing more and more women leaders within engineering these days leading and making it up and leading companies. They just need to stay on their path and not give up when put in a bad situation that might make them feel like they're not being heard. They need to stand up for that. And one thing too that this may not make any sense, but being an engineer, I've talked to my two boys and my niece who is an engineer as well, they're out of school a couple years, and I told her, yeah, being a good engineer, but understanding contracts and contract language is very important, and we're not taught that in school. But being able to look at contracts so you know what you're going to get, what am I paying for, is something that I learned over time is very important, and I think the sooner you learn it, the better off you would be.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in engineering is that women remain underrepresented, even as more are reaching leadership positions. At the same time, there’s a tremendous opportunity to expand women’s leadership, transition into defense roles, and build networks that create opportunities for small women-owned businesses.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me most are mentorship—especially supporting young women—perseverance in the face of challenges, and a strong commitment to family.