Peggy Cornell
NASA’s Glenn Research Center
Peggy Cornell is the Deputy Project Manager for NASA’s Commercial Supersonic Technology Project. Throughout her career of hands-on experience with jet engines, test engineering expertise in the effort to power space missions reliably, and leadership roles in aeronautics, she has demonstrated exceptional and sustained contributions to aeronautics and space.
Peggy has over 28 years of experience at NASA as a technician, engineer, and project manager. She’s worked with multi-disciplinary, multi-project, multi-Center teams at the program, project and subproject levels. She started her career as a Mechanical Engineering Technician supporting various aeronautics testing facilities. After earning her BS in Physics, she spent a decade as a Technical Lead and engineer testing Stirling power convertors and researching multilayer insulation for radioisotope power systems. She then went on to earn her MS in Mechanical Engineering and moved to the Aeronautics Mission Office where she has been an integral part of leadership teams supporting commercial supersonics, electrified aircraft, electric vertical takeoff/landing vehicles, unmanned aircraft systems, and other groundbreaking areas.
In parallel to her early NASA service, Peggy served her country in the USAFR as a Jet Engine Mechanic. She has always been very passionate about aviation/aeronautics and is an active volunteer for STEM, promoting activities and providing mentorship to young engineers and engineering students. Ms. Cornell has made notable advancements to aeronautics and space research through her leadership and technical contributions. These attributes have earned her the lifetime distinction award of Associate Fellow in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and in 2021, she was elected (and holds current status as) a Regional Director in AIAA.