Missy Cummings

Missy Cummings is a Professor and Director of the Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center (MARC) at George Mason University's Volgenau School of Engineering. She holds concurrent faculty appointments in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Computer Science. Previously, she served as a U.S. Navy fighter pilot (1988–1999), one of the first women in that role, and later as senior safety advisor to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Education:

• BS in Mathematics, U.S. Naval Academy (1988)
• MS in Space Systems Engineering, Naval Postgraduate School (1994)
• PhD in Systems Engineering, University of Virginia (2004)

Her research focuses on human-autonomy collaboration, ethical AI, unmanned systems policy, and the societal impacts of technology. She leads MARC, a hub for robotics and responsible AI innovation. Cummings is an AIAA Fellow and frequently advises on national security and AI governance.

Awards & Recognition:

• AIAA Fellow

Her advisory roles include work with NHTSA on autonomous vehicle safety. She is affiliated with multiple departments and actively engaged in cross-disciplinary research at George Mason University.