"I am honored to be selected as an OAE for 2022. I specifically chose Purdue because I knew it would help me reach not only career goals, but my dream to go to space. Following in the footsteps of so many government and commercial astronauts that have achieved spaceflight through an education at Purdue is very special.”
Sirisha Bandla currently works as the Vice President of Government Affairs and Research Operations for Virgin Galactic. In this role, Bandla oversees legislative, regulatory and government business priorities for the company, as well as works with research customers to fly science and technology experiments on VG’s SpaceShip class of vehicles.
Last year, Bandla was selected to the crew of Virgin Galactic's Unity 22 mission where she launched to space on VSS Unity, while conducting microgravity research onboard.
Previously, Bandla served as the Associate Director for the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, an industry association of commercial spaceflight companies. At CSF, she worked on various policies with the aim to promote and enable the then-emerging commercial space industry. Before CSF, she worked as an aerospace engineer designing components for advanced aircraft at L-3 Communications in Greenville, Texas.
Bandla serves on the Board of American Society for Gravitational and Space Research, American Astronautical Society and the Future Space Leaders Foundation. She also helps to organize the Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship Program, an internship and mentorship program that provides summer opportunities to current college juniors, seniors and graduate students passionate about commercial spaceflight.
Bandla has a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue and holds a Master of Business Administration from The George Washington University.