Dr. Christyl Johnson joined NASA Goddard as Deputy Center Director for Technology and Research Investments in December 2010.  She manages the Center’s research and development portfolio, formulates the Center’s future science and technology goals, and leads an integrated program of investments aligned to meet those goals. 

Dr. Johnson came to NASA Goddard from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.  She served under the President’s Science Advisor as the Executive Director of the National Science and Technology Council, which is the principal means within the executive branch to coordinate science and technology policy across the Federal research and development enterprise.  She was responsible for ensuring the establishment of clear national goals for Federal science and technology investments in a broad array of areas across the executive branch.

Prior to joining the White House staff, Dr. Johnson served as the Assistant Associate Administrator of NASA.  She along with the Associate Administrator provided the oversight of the agency's technical mission areas and field center operations. 

Dr. Johnson came to the Office of the Administrator from the Office of the Chief Engineer, where she served as the Deputy Chief Engineer for Program Integration and Operations.  There, she provided an integrated focus for the development, maintenance, and implementation of agency engineering and program/project management policies, standards, and practices.

Dr. Johnson earned her bachelor's degree in physics from Lincoln University, a master's degree in electrical engineering from Pennsylvania State University, and a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from George Washington University.