A Tribute to Dr. Mary Lynne Dittmar: A Force for Progress in Space

Historical moments in space exploration, like President Kennedy's 1961 Moon landing declaration, NASA’s pivot to an International Space Station (ISS) in 1993, or NASA's 2019 call for commercial space stations, often seem like singular events. They can appear as visionary pronouncements, reactions to global events, or simply a government agency fulfilling its mission. However, these grand endeavors are built upon years of dedicated work by policymakers, lobbyists, industry consortiums, and strategic thinkers – the kind of work that Dr. Mary Lynne Dittmar has led for decades.

Mary Lynne's decision to retire from her role as Axiom Space's Chief Government and External Relations Officer offers a chance to celebrate her immense contributions, not just to Axiom Space, but to the nation. It's an opportunity to illuminate her career within the often-complex world of space policy where she has thrived.

Starting as an Associate Professor at the University of Alabama Huntsville, Mary Lynne focused on human factors and virtual reality applications for engineering and design, supporting both the University and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. She later led simulation and virtual reality efforts at Boeing as a Senior Systems Engineer. Her deep connection with the ISS began in1996. During her time at Boeing, she held key positions, including Manager of Boeing ISS Operations and Utilization, Manager of Boeing ISS Flight Operations and International Training, Chief Scientist of Boeing International Commercial Payloads Program, and Director of Boeing Global Earth Observation Program. These roles provided a crucial foundation in technical understanding, enabling her to effectively communicate complex issues to policymakers. This expertise lent credibility to her solutions and allowed her to convey them clearly to stakeholders without technical backgrounds.

In 2004, Mary Lynne founded Dittmar & Associates in Houston, embarking on a successful career providing strategic counsel to leaders in government, industry, and international aerospace. Her woman-owned business served prestigious clients like NASA, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, SAIC, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing. This experience honed her business acumen and broadened her network within the aerospace industry, solidifying her reputation as a sought-after space policy expert.

In 2015, she founded and led the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration as President and CEO. Under her leadership, the organization grew to encompass 65 companies with a combined market cap exceeding $340 billion, becoming a driving force in the space industry. She and the Coalition provided expert advice to NASA leadership, Congress, and the White House. In 2021, she joined Axiom Space as Chief Government and External Relations Officer, where she played a pivotal role in shaping national policy for economically sustainable activities in low-Earth orbit, while also furthering the aspirations of Axiom Space.

Dr. Dittmar's influence is evident in her five Congressional testimonies, 31 publications, 19 online articles, one invention, countless speaking engagements, and numerous awards, including being elected Fellow of the American Astronautical Society, receiving the Boeing Chief Technology Officer Award for Technical Excellence, and earning the prestigious NASA Space Flight Awareness "Silver Snoopy" Award.

Mary Lynne has forged an extraordinary career. Her success is a testament to her technical depth, business acumen, preparedness, research skills, strategic innovation, communication skills, grit, and her dedication to cultivating a vast network of colleagues and friends. Typical of her lifetime of service, following the recent devastation of Hurricane Helene, she is currently leveraging that network to help her neighbors, local businesses and the region cope with ongoing impacts in Western North Carolina, where she lives.

On a personal note, working with Mary Lynne has been an honor. Her accomplishments are inspiring, and I learn from her every conversation. She is an exceptional communicator and a dedicated mentor – honest, generous with her time, and insightful. I have benefited immensely from her guidance as a colleague and friend. While Axiom Space will miss her daily presence, she has promised to remain just a phone call away. We wish her well and look forward to the next chapter in her remarkable life.

Matt Ondler
President, Axiom Space

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