Gwynne Shotwell
Awards & Honours
10
Awards Won
5
Honours
8
Rankings
5
Covers
4
Records
Shotwell's achievements are remarkable by any measure. She has been a driving force behind every major SpaceX milestone for over two decades, from the first privately funded orbital launch to the first commercial crewed mission to the ISS. She is one of the most decorated engineers in the aerospace industry, with honors including the ASME Medal, the IEEE Pioneer Award, and membership in the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Her influence extends beyond engineering: she has been named to Time's 100 Most Influential People and consistently ranks among the world's most powerful women in business.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
National Academy of Engineering Member
Elected for contributions to space transportation
American Academy of Arts and Sciences Member
Elected for contributions to science and engineering
Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
Recognized for professional achievement
Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
Recognized for contributions to aerospace
Space Foundation Hall of Fame Inductee
Inducted for lifetime achievement in space
Rankings & Lists
World's 100 Most Powerful Women
World's 100 Most Powerful Women
World's 100 Most Powerful Women
Most Powerful Women in Business
Most Powerful Women in Business
Most Powerful Women in Business
Most Powerful People in Space
100 Most Influential People
Magazine Covers
Time
September 2020
The Space Force
Fortune
October 2020
The Most Powerful Woman in Space
Forbes
June 2021
Gwynne Shotwell: The Woman Behind SpaceX's Success
Wired
November 2021
The Engineer Who Made SpaceX Work
Bloomberg Businessweek
May 2022
SpaceX's Secret Weapon
Records & Feats
First privately funded company to reach orbit
SpaceX's Falcon 1 fourth launch succeeded on September 28, 2008, making SpaceX the first privately funded company to reach orbit. Shotwell was vice president of business development and helped secure the contracts that kept the company afloat.
First commercial vehicle to dock with the ISS
Under Shotwell's operational leadership, SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft became the first commercial vehicle to dock with the International Space Station on May 25, 2012.
First successful landing of an orbital rocket first stage
Shotwell oversaw the operations that led to the first successful landing of a Falcon 9 first stage on December 21, 2015, revolutionizing rocket reusability.
First crewed orbital launch from U.S. soil since Space Shuttle retirement
Shotwell was instrumental in the first crewed flight of Crew Dragon on May 30, 2020, which carried NASA astronauts to the ISS. It was the first crewed orbital launch from U.S. soil since 2011.