About the Speaker

In her present position, Director, Innovation Partnerships, Ms.Brekke manages the Innovative Partnership Program (IPP) at JSC. The objective of the IPP is twofold; the transfer of technology from NASA into the private sector for commercialization (spin-offs) as well as the infusion (spin-in) of technologies advanced through collaborative partnerships.

Ms. Brekke began working at NASA/Johnson Space Center in 1977 and has held positions in Mission Operations and manned Flight Programs, including Space Shuttle Program and the International Space Station Program. She was the Space Shuttle Flight Manager for 6 Space Shuttle missions.

A native of Rochester, New York, Ms.Brekke earned a BS (’75) and MS (’77) degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn.  She has 3 adult children, 2 sons and a daughter.