JPL Commits to First-Ever Space Industry Diversity Pledge
Inclusion is a JPL core value. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Twenty-three space industry executives, including the interim director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, gathered at the 37th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on April 5 to pledge their commitment to advancing diversity across the collective workforce in coming years. The executives signed the “Space Workforce 2030” pledge, the first-ever space industry commitment of its kind to “significantly increase the number of women and employees from underrepresented groups.” Cozette Hart, JPL’s director for human resources, is proud of JPL’s partnership in this effort. “We’ve shared JPL DEI data in our annual report, so the unification and commitment of our industry to broaden this work is an extremely positive step for all of us,” said Hart. Neela Rajendra, the Lab’s manager of diversity, equity, and inclusion, also acknowledged the importance of being part of a cohort of other aerospace organizations where companies can identify trends and learn from each other.
