Meet Amanda

Dr. Amanda Goodson’s contagious energy, interactive methods, and engaging intellect come from an amazing background of more than 25 years of experiences leading and managing people and complex systems.

As an aerospace engineer at NASA, Amanda became the first female senior executive in Safety & Mission Assurance for Propulsion Systems. She also served as the first African-American woman appointed as Director of Safety & Mission Assurance with over 35 successful launches under her leadership at the NASA Kennedy Space Center Launch Facility.

Amanda is a senior leader, business operations manager, and staff executive at a major engineering firm. She is also responsible to drive strategy and to deploy an executable and sustainable business model for remote sites. Prior to her current role, she served as director for process integration, IT governance, and information assurance at the company, and once represented the company as the vice chair for the Advancing Minorities Interest in Engineering board of directors.

Amanda is also an independent certified John Maxwell speaker, trainer, and coach, and has been a keynote speaker for clients such as NASA, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineers, YWCA, and major Department of Defense contractors. She is also author of over 16 books including her latest book, Astronomical Leadership, as well as Authority of a Leader and How to Unlock Your Full Potential: 11 Keys to Leader Success.

Amanda was named the federal government’s supervisor of the year and received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, has received the Southwest Alliance leadership award, and was selected as a Tucson Woman on the Move.