Holly Ridings

Ridings was born in Amarillo, Texas.^[1][2] She attended Texas A&M University, where she studied mechanical engineering and graduated in 1996.^[1] Ridings was made a member of the NASA Academy.^[3] She took part in a student program at the Goddard Space Flight Center.^[4]

She is married to Michael Baine.^[5]

Ridings joined NASA in 1998, working as an International Space Station flight controller in the Thermal Operations and Resources Group.^[6][7] She eventually became lead for the International Space Station Attitude Determination and Control group.^[6] In 2003 she became lead for the Space Station Motion Control Systems Group.^[4] In 2005 she was made a flight director.^[1][2] She was lead director for Expedition 16, STS-127 and SpaceX Dragon.^[1] As expedition 16 lead, Ridings was responsible for the crew of the International Space Station for STS-120, STS-122, STS-123 as well as the first Automated Transfer Vehicle mission.^[6] During STS-127, Ridings oversaw major construction to the International Space Station, including the addition of the Japanese Exposed Facility and the External Platform.^[6] Ridings was promoted to Deputy Chief Flight Director.^[8] She was responsible for the safety of the International Space Station crew during the SpaceX Dragon Demo.^[6]

In September 2018 Ridings was announced as the chief flight director at NASA. She was responsible for 32 flight directors who oversee human spaceflight.^[1] She oversaw missions to the International Space Station, the Orion spacecraft as well as integrated trips of commercial crew spacecraft.^[9][10] Ridings served as chief flight director through 2022.^[11]

Ridings won the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal for Expedition 16 and the SpaceX Dragon Mission.^[6]