Dr. Sandra Magnus

Biography

Sandra "Sandy" Magnus is a Professor of the Practice at the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She has joint appointments in the School of Materials Science and Engineering and the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs. Her primary focus is on research advocacy, leadership, and mentorship, providing guidance to students and faculty on aerospace engineering issues. Magnus currently leads AstroPlanetview, LLC and served as the Deputy Director of the Engineering Office in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, contributing to the establishment of engineering policies across the Department of Defense. She was also the Executive Director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the world's largest technical society dedicated to the aerospace profession. For 16 years, Magnus was a member of the NASA Astronaut Corps, participating in significant missions including STS-112 and STS-135. She earned her B.S. in Physics in 1986 and her M.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1990 from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, followed by a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Georgia Tech in 1996. Magnus has received numerous awards, including NASA's Space Flight Medal and the Distinguished Service Medal.

Research Interests