Holly Ridings

Holly Elizabeth Ridings (born 25 December 1973) is an American mechanical engineer and was the first woman to be chief flight director at NASA. She works at the Johnson Space Center.

Holly Ridings
Ridings' 2016 executive portrait
Born	Holly Renee Ridings (1973-12-25) December 25, 1973 (age 51)
Alma mater	Texas A&M University
Awards	NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal
Scientific career
Institutions	NASA Johnson Space Center

Early life and education

Ridings was born in Amarillo, Texas.^[1][2] She attended Texas A&M University, where she studied mechanical engineering and graduated in 1996.^[1] Ridings was made a member of the NASA Academy.^[3] She took part in a student program at the Goddard Space Flight Center.^[4]

She is married to Michael Baine.^[5]

Career

Flight directors for the STS-117 mission in June 2007. Annette Hasbrook (ISS Orbit 1), Kelly Beck (ISS Orbit 2 & lead) and Holly Ridings (ISS Orbit 3).

Ridings joined NASA in 1998, working as an International Space Station flight controller in the Thermal Operations and Resources Group.^[6][7] She eventually became lead for the International Space Station Attitude Determination and Control group.^[6] In 2003 she became lead for the Space Station Motion Control Systems Group.^[4] In 2005 she was made a flight director.^[1][2] She was lead director for Expedition 16, STS-127 and SpaceX Dragon.^[1] As expedition 16 lead, Ridings was responsible for the crew of the International Space Station for STS-120, STS-122, STS-123 as well as the first Automated Transfer Vehicle mission.^[6] During STS-127, Ridings overlooked major construction to the International Space Station, including the addition of the Japanese Exposed Facility and the External Platform.^[6] Ridings was promoted to Deputy Chief Flight Director.^[8] She was responsible for the safety of the International Space Station crew during the SpaceX Dragon Demo.^[6]

In September 2018 Ridings was announced as the chief flight director at NASA. She was responsible for 32 flight directors who oversee human spaceflight.^[1] She oversaw missions to the International Space Station, the Orion spacecraft as well as integrated trips of commercial crew spacecraft.^[9][10] Ridings served as chief flight director through 2022.^[11]

Awards and honors

Ridings won the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal for Expedition 16 and the SpaceX Dragon Mission.^[6]

Holly Ridings in 2022 at Johnson Space Center

References

1. Northon, Karen (2018-09-17). "NASA Names Holly Ridings New Chief Flight Director". NASA. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
2. "Texas native becomes first female to lead NASA's Mission Control flight directors". HoustonChronicle.com. 2018-09-17. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
3. "TSGC | NASA Academy". www.tsgc.utexas.edu. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
4. "Mission Control Flight Director appointments - collectSPACE: Messages". www.collectspace.com. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
5. Chandler-Wilde (6 July 2021). "Holly Ridings: 'Women want to be perfect candidates for anything before they will apply'". Retrieved 12 November 2022.
6. "Biographical Data: Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center" (PDF). ESC4. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
7. LR, Redacción (2018-09-17). "Por primera vez, NASA elige a una mujer como nueva directora de vuelos espaciales" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-09-19.
8. "VP Mike Pence visits Johnson Space Center, affirms commitment to space mission". Houston Chronicle. 2017-06-07. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
9. "Holly Ridings named as NASA's new chief flight director - SpaceFlight Insider". www.spaceflightinsider.com. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
10. "NASA appoints the first female master flight director in the history of the program - Navva". Navva. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
11. Avedisian, Wendy (May 2, 2023). "NASA Selects Emily Nelson as Chief Flight Director". NASA (Press release). Retrieved May 2, 2023.