Sirisha Bandla

Sirisha Bandla graduated with a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering in 2011, laying the foundation for her extraordinary journey in the aerospace industry. Following graduation, she began her career at L-3 Communications as an aerospace engineer, playing a key role in designing components for advanced aircraft. Later, she moved to the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, dedicating her efforts to advancing the prospects of commercial flight. In 2015, Bandla joined Virgin Galactic as vice president for government affairs, responsible for establishing Virgin Galactic’s and Virgin Orbit's presence within the Beltway. She engaged extensively with Congress, the White House, and NASA to promote the company's interests and objectives. Bandla's commitment and contributions to the aerospace sector culminated in a historic event June 11, 2021, when she flew on the Virgin Galactic Unity 22 test flight alongside Sir Richard Branson and four others. This milestone made her the second Indian-born woman to fly to space. Bandla's achievements garnered widespread recognition, and in 2022, she was honored as one of the BBC 100 Women.