Monica Todirita is the Acting Deputy Program Director for the Office of Geostationary Earth Orbit Observations, where she provides executive leadership across NOAA’s geostationary satellite portfolio. She supports program direction for the development, acquisition, and integration of major system elements, guiding strategy, technical execution, and milestone governance for the nation’s next generation of geostationary capabilities.
Monica previously served as the GeoXO Flight Project Deputy Manager, leading formulation activities, acquisition planning, and early-phase engineering for NOAA’s future geostationary constellation. She also served as the Flight Project Deputy Manager for the GOES-R Program, where she helped steer mission execution, supported launch readiness efforts, and worked closely with multidisciplinary teams to strengthen system performance and operational continuity.
Her earlier roles within GOES-R include leadership positions in instrument systems and instrument management, where she oversaw development, integration, and environmental qualification for multiple flight instruments and supported algorithm transition and post-launch testing. Prior to her GOES leadership roles, she contributed to systems engineering and mission operations at NASA Goddard and NOAA, supporting ground system development, mission automation, and operational transitions.
Todirita holds a master’s degree in systems management from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Al. I. Cuza University in Romania. Her work has been recognized through numerous agency and interagency awards.