Submitted by: Lainey Morrow, bmorrow@uca.edu on 03/23/2026
The College of Business will host Amir Deylami, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of NASA’s Ames Research Center, for the second of his Executive in Residence Leadership Series presentations.
March 31, 2026, at 1:40pm: Building People-Centric Cultures of Innovation and Trust
The UCA campus is invited to attend each event, and the events are free and open to the public. Join us in the UCA College of Business Auditorium.
ABOUT MR. 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.
