WASHINGTON — NASA has named Amit Kshatriya as its new associate administrator in a move meant to emphasize the role of exploration at the agency.

NASA announced Sept. 3 that its acting administrator, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, appointed Kshatriya to the post, the agency’s top-ranking civil service job.

The position had been filled on an acting basis since early this year by Vanessa Wyche, director of the Johnson Space Center. She took over after Jim Free, associate administrator since early 2024, left in February.

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