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Executive in Residence

Senior NASA Executive to Serve as Executive in Residence, Host UCA Leadership Series

Amir Deylami, COO of NASA’s Ames Research Center, will discuss innovation, mission-driven leadership, and organizational transformation.

The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) College of Business will host Amir Deylami, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of NASA’s Ames Research Center, for three Executive in Residence Leadership Series presentations. The UCA campus is invited to attend each event, and the events are free and open to the public.

Deylami’s UCA Leadership Series will include:

  • February 17, 2026, at 1:40pm: Lessons in Leadership, Purpose, and Resilience
  • March 31, 2026, at 1:40pm: Building People-Centric Cultures of Innovation and Trust
  • April 16, 2026, at 3:00pm: Leading Transformative Vision in Complex Organizations

All events will be held in the UCA College of Business Auditorium in Conway, Arkansas.

“Amir Deylami is recognized as one of NASA’s top-performing executives. We are thrilled he will engage with our students, faculty and staff, and community partners and share his successful strategies on innovation, operations, and technology,” said Dr. Tim Bisping, Dean of the UCA College of Business.

Dr. Bisping added, “We asked Amir to serve as our Executive in Residence because he is deeply committed to mentorship and leadership development. He is a successful Arkansan with two decades of executive experience at NASA, and we look forward to his visits to our campus.”

The Executive in Residence program exposes UCA College of Business connects successful industry experts with students, faculty, and local business professionals. The college maintains an innovative curriculum that provides real-world experiences and engagement to prepare UCA students for the global business environment.

ABOUT MR. AMIR DEYLAMI

Amir H. Deylami is the Chief Operating Officer of NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, where he leads enterprise operations, infrastructure modernization, and strategic transformation across one of NASA’s most complex and partner-intensive centers. In this role, he oversees and supports approximately $8 billion in assets and a $1 billion annual operating portfolio, supporting more than 3,200 employees, 160 NASA programs, and over 100 public-private partner agreements spanning aeronautics, space exploration, science, and advanced technology.

A member of the Senior Executive Service (SES), Amir is recognized for driving mission-focused operational excellence at scale. He has led enterprise initiatives generating over $200 million in realized and projected savings, while strengthening workforce capability, modernizing infrastructure, and embedding data-driven decision-making across large, highly regulated organizations. His leadership philosophy centers on aligning people, resources, and culture to enable sustained mission delivery and measurable outcomes.

In addition to his operational responsibilities, Amir served as a lead for NASA 2040 – People, helping shape the agency’s long-term workforce strategy focused on developing, attracting, and retaining talent critical to future missions. Previously, he served as Chief Financial Officer at NASA Ames and as Deputy Chief Financial Officer for Resources at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, supporting financial strategy and long-range planning for a $4 billion operation and a workforce of 6,400 employees.

At NASA Headquarters, Amir held leadership roles within the Space Technology Mission Directorate, including serving as Lead Resource Management Officer for major technology demonstration programs spanning all NASA centers. He also completed a one-year executive assignment in the Office of the NASA Administrator, supporting agency-wide performance management and strategic integration.

Amir is deeply committed to mentorship and leadership development. He serves on the board of advisors and faculty for NASA’s senior executive development program, mentors emerging leaders across government and industry, and advises several national and international boards and committees. Recognized among NASA’s top-performing executives and nominated for the Presidential Rank Award, he is a speaker on leadership, organizational transformation, and operational excellence.

Amir holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and has completed executive programs at Stanford and Harvard University. He resides in Northwest Arkansas with his wife, Bliss, and their two daughters.