Debbie Wells is a Louisiana Tech biomedical engineer with an MBA from the University of Florida who has 25 years of space industry experience and over a decade in venture capital. Since 1988, she has contributed to over 100 space shuttle and ISS missions and the experiments aboard those flights expanding the knowledgebase that helps keep today’s astronauts healthy. Her work has inspired the next generation of research aboard the International Space Station and the ISS National Lab. She was the Kennedy Space Center’s Life Sciences Services Contract lead for the development of KSC and Edwards AFB facilities for astronaut research as well as for the design, construction and start-up of the 100,000 sq ft Space Life Sciences Lab – the first facility in Space Florida’s Exploration Park.

After completing her MBA in 2006, Debbie joined a Florida venture capital firm to evaluate new business opportunities and recommend investment strategies. Her expertise in business, life sciences, and engineering led to her appointment as Director of Product Development at a renewable energy start-up with responsibility for recommending and implementing both manufacturing and business strategies for products in animal feed, fertilizer, fuels, and human food. She continued her entrepreneurial leadership as VP of Process Development for a separate start-up until returning to her passion for space working at Kennedy Space Center in 2017.

Debbie has also served as Deputy Program Manager for Amentum Services, Inc. managing research and operational laboratories at Kennedy Space Center. She focused on acquiring new research funding, establishing collaborations and commercial partnerships for pushing the boundaries to prepare for the new economy of space.

In 2022, Debbie transitioned to Johnson Space Center to lead the Human Spaceflight Technical Integration Contract’s support for the Orion Program, and most recently, she joined Leidos, Inc., an innovation leader in health, engineering and science where she oversees Leidos’ Space, Environment and Earth Intelligence portfolio where she and her team are enabling the future of space exploration, global resilience, and sustainability.

Throughout her career, Debbie has been active in extracurricular activities. These include local organizations such as Space Coast Runners, Divine Mercy Academy, and Girl Scouts of the USA. She has served her alma mater, Louisiana Tech University, as President of the Engineering and Science Foundation as well as the national Biomedical Engineering Society through leadership on the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc. to ensure the next generation of engineers is properly educated and prepared for future challenges. Her efforts have been honored through numerous recognitions including Space Coast Women Engineer of the Year, NASA’s Silver Snoopy Award, Louisiana Tech Biomedical Engineering Alumnus of the Year and the network of individuals she calls colleagues and friends. Most recently, Debbie serves on the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) Committee on Biological and Physical Sciences in Space.