She was appointed as acting NASA Administrator by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, and as director of the John F. Kennedy Space Center by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on June 30, 2021, making her the first woman to serve in each of these positions.

[4] Janet Petro began her career as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, upon graduation from the US Military Academy.

For 12-months, she served an appointment at NASA's headquarters in Washington, D.C., as the deputy associate administrator and acting director for the Office of Evaluation.

[8] Petro's nomination was considered surprising by some aerospace observers, as her appointment passed over NASA's Associate Administrator, Jim Free.

[9] As director of NASA, she eliminated the Diversity and Inclusion office, in compliance with an executive order by Donald Trump.