She Ran IT for NASA! On Earth and in Space | Renee Wynn (Part 1)

What does it take to run technology for an organization whose network doesn't stop at the edge of the planet? In Part 1 of this special Leading with LAVA conversation, Jake Jansen and Doug Burr sit down with Renee Wynn, former Chief Information Officer of NASA, for a wide-open conversation about technology, leadership, cybersecurity, space exploration, AI, and what happens when you're responsible for IT on Earth — and off it. Renee shares the unlikely path that took her from 25 years at the EPA to NASA, where just weeks after arriving she was asked a pretty unbelievable question: “Would you like to be the CIO?” From there, the conversation goes everywhere. Renee explains why even at NASA, the story has to come before the data when you're trying to drive change. She takes us inside the challenge of building a cybersecurity posture spanning NASA's global infrastructure, spacecraft, and partnerships with space agencies around the world — including ESA and the German, Japanese, and French space agencies. She also recounts discovering that NASA's global network wasn't being monitored when she arrived and what happened when the White House called about NASA's cybersecurity posture. And then we leave Earth. We talk about data centers in space, why Renee still holds her breath during astronaut launches, the acceleration of the commercial space economy, and the incredible ripple effects ambitious space programs have created here on Earth. Your phone camera? Technology developed for space. Medical cooling technology? Space. And Renee reminds us that NASA has been using AI and machine learning on Mars for decades, long before AI became the thing every company was talking about. This conversation isn't just about rockets. It's about what happens when human beings set goals that seem almost impossibly ambitious — and all of the innovation, technology, businesses, and possibilities that get created while trying to reach them. In Part 1: • Renee's journey from EPA → NASA • Being offered the NASA CIO job only weeks after arriving • Why great leaders tell the story before showing the data • Cybersecurity across the globe — and off it • Working with international space agencies • Discovering NASA's global network wasn't being monitored • The White House calling about NASA's cybersecurity posture • Data centers in space and the risks nobody is talking about yet • Why Renee still holds her breath during every crewed launch • The explosion of the commercial space economy • How the moonshot created technology far beyond the moon • AI and machine learning on Mars • How NASA technology makes its way into phones, medicine, and everyday life • Why character, curiosity, and doing the small things still matter 0:00 Cold Open 2:00 Meet Renee Wynn, Former NASA CIO 6:10 25 Years at EPA → NASA 6:29 “Would You Like to Be the CIO?” 10:08 Why the Story Comes Before the Data 11:47 Cybersecurity on Earth — and in Space 12:41 NASA's International Space Partnerships 16:46 “NASA's Network Wasn't Being Monitored” 37:43 Data Centers in Space?! 38:34 Why Renee Still Holds Her Breath During Launches 43:47 Three Historic Space Missions 48:59 The Moon Landing Changed More Than Space 50:32 The Space Economy Is Exploding 52:52 NASA Has Used AI on Mars Since 2003 55:22 Your Phone Camera Came From Space 1:00:43 What Wildly Ambitious Goals Create 1:02:31 Finding Millions in Technology Savings 1:11:31 Do the Small Things 1:20:17 End of Part 1 This is Part 1. Part 2 is coming soon. If you enjoy conversations with the people building, leading, and thinking about what's next in technology, subscribe to Leading with LAVA. And if you know a CIO, technology leader, cyber professional, or someone who could talk about space all day — send them this episode. 🎧 Leading with LAVA 🌐 LAVA Technology Services: lavats.com 📧 info@lavats.com