Simon Peter Worden (born 1949, in Michigan) is formerly the director of NASA's Ames Research Center (ARC) at Moffett Field, California, until his retirement on March 31, 2015.

Prior to joining NASA, he held several positions in the United States Air Force and was research professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona, Tucson.

[1] Worden announced his planned resignation from NASA in February 2015, indicating he would be pursuing "some long-held dreams in the private sector".

In addition to his position with the University of Arizona, Worden served as a consultant to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on space-related issues.

Worden also instituted and championed innovative management and engineering techniques while at BMDO, including rapid prototyping, "build a little test a little", a "badgeless" work environment, and a flat organizational structure.

His support led to the selection of NASA Ames as the host for the 2009 ISU SSP program[6] in the months July and August 2009.

[10] Later, after having worked for U.S. Sen Sam Brownback (R-Kan), Worden said his Capitol Hill experience demonstrated to him that NASA actually stood for "Never A Straight Answer.

For instance, he supported and presided over "Yuri's Night Bay Area",[12] held at NASA Ames Research Center in 2007.

In April 2007, Pete Worden became the first NASA Center director to address an audience at a space conference (ISDC07) through the virtual world of Second Life.