Dr. Christyl C. Johnson is Co-Founder and General Partner of Andromeda Ventures. She recently retired from NASA as a distinguished senior executive and systems engineer with 35 years of experience leading large-scale technology portfolios, mission-critical innovation, and complex organizational transformation at the highest levels of government. At Andromeda Ventures, Dr. Johnson applies this systems-level judgment to evaluating frontier technologies, governance risk, and long-cycle innovation as they transition from public-sector missions into venture-backed companies.

Most recently, Dr. Johnson served as Associate Administrator and Deputy Associate Administrator of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate at Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where she provided executive leadership, strategic vision, and operational oversight for the Agency's space technology enterprise—directing the planning, coordination, and execution of a broad portfolio of programs spanning early-stage research through flight-ready systems.

Previously, Dr. Johnson supported the Office of the NASA Administrator as Executive Architect, where she spearheaded a transformative agency-wide technology initiative focused on digital modernization in preparation for our journey to the Moon and Mars. Her work was critical for integrating artificial intelligence, strengthening cybersecurity posture, and modernizing enterprise data management systems.

Dr. Johnson has also served at the intersection of science, technology, and national policy. As Executive Director of the National Science and Technology Council at the White House, she helped shape federal R&D priorities across the executive branch, including basic science, energy, environment, natural resources, and national and homeland security. In prior roles at NASA Headquarters, including Assistant Associate Administrator and Deputy Chief Engineer, she oversaw agency-wide programmatic operations and shaped the restructuring of NASA’s engineering organization following the Columbia accident.

Dr. Johnson holds a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from George Washington University, a master's degree in Electrical Engineering from Penn State University, and a bachelor's degree in Physics from Lincoln University. Her honors include the Presidential Rank Award, induction into GWU's Engineering Hall of Fame, and a nomination for the Presidential National Medal for Technology and Innovation.