NASA Appoints Indo-American Space Scientist Bhavya Lal as Acting Chief of Staff; Indians Send Wishes

The beginning of 2021 appears to be getting off to a particularly glossy start for Indians in the US In January, Kamala Harris, of Indian origin, made history after being sworn in as the first female vice president of the US. While Indians are riding on pride over Harris' achievements, the success of another Indo-American woman is making headlines.

Indo-American space scientist Bhavya Lal has been appointed Acting Chief of Staff by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civilian space programme, as well as aeronautics and space research.

Lal is an active member of the space technology and policy community, having chaired, co-chaired, or served on five high-impact National Academy of Science committees.

The space scientist has also headed the analysis of space technology, strategy, and policy for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

The news of Lal's NASA promotion has garnered congratulatory messages from around the world, especially from India. 

This is huge!! I mean let's face it.

— Akhilesh Gopal (@AkhileshGopal3) February 2, 2021

Also: friends at HQ have been telling me how incandescently brilliant Bhavya Lal has been so far. Exciting times ahead.

— Grant Tremblay (@astrogrant) February 1, 2021

Congratulations @blal on your new role as the Chief of Staff (Acting), NASA. More power to you.
https://t.co/zLI55JvvvZ via @ndtv

— Rupa Dash (@rupadash) February 2, 2021

Congrats to Bhavya Lal, appointed as Chief of NASA Staff. Pride for Indo-American in Biden Ministry.

— Ravindra s (@Ravindr06216863) February 2, 2021

#NEWS NASA has welcomed Indian American Bhavya Lal as acting chief of staff. pic.twitter.com/weDKqMhEug

— Jignesh Bhatt🇮🇳🚩 (@Jignesh0408) February 2, 2021

​In an official statement NASA said that Lal brings extensive experience in engineering and space technology, serving as a member of the research staff at the Institute for Defence Analyses Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI) from 2005 to 2020.