Born: 1963 (Montreal, Quebec)
Biography:
Julie Payette CC CMM COM CQ CD FCAE is a Canadian engineer, scientist, and former astronaut who served as the 29th Governor General of Canada from 2017 to 2021. Born on October 20, 1963, in Montreal, Quebec, Payette grew up in the Ahuntsic neighborhood and attended Collège Mont-Saint-Louis and Collège Regina Assumpta.
In 1982, Payette completed an International Baccalaureate diploma at the United World College of the Atlantic in South Wales, United Kingdom. She then pursued her undergraduate studies at McGill University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Engineering degree in electrical engineering in 1986. Payette continued her education at the University of Toronto, completing a Master of Applied Science degree in computer engineering in 1990. Her research focused on computational linguistics, a field of artificial intelligence.
Following her academic achievements, Payette began her career as a research scientist. However, her passion for space exploration led her to join the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in 1992 as a member of the Canadian Astronaut Corps. Throughout her career, she achieved remarkable milestones in space exploration. Payette completed two spaceflights: STS-96 in 1999 and STS-127 in 2009, spending a total of more than 25 days in space.
During her time at the CSA, Payette also served as a capsule communicator at the NASA Mission Control Center in Houston and held the position of CSA’s chief astronaut from 2000 to 2007. Her expertise and contributions in these roles significantly contributed to the advancement of Canadian space exploration.
In July 2013, Payette assumed the role of chief operating officer for the Montreal Science Centre, where she played a pivotal role in promoting scientific education and engagement. Additionally, she held various board appointments, including the National Bank of Canada.
On July 13, 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Queen Elizabeth II approved Payette’s appointment as the next governor general of Canada. She was officially invested on October 2, 2017, becoming the 29th individual to hold this prestigious position. Payette’s appointment celebrated her exceptional achievements in the fields of science, engineering, and space exploration.
However, Payette’s tenure as governor general was marred by controversy. Following a workplace review that found she had created a toxic and verbally abusive environment, Payette resigned on January 21, 2021. The review was initiated by the Privy Council Office to investigate accusations of harassment of civil servants in the Office of the Governor General. Payette became the second governor general to resign from the office, the first to resign due to scandal, and the first to leave a vacancy upon resignation.
Julie Payette’s career and accomplishments have made her an influential figure in Canadian society. Her pioneering work in space exploration, along with her contributions to scientific research and education, have inspired countless individuals, particularly women, to pursue careers in STEM fields. Payette’s resilience and dedication to advancing human knowledge and exploring the unknown have solidified her place in history as an exceptional Canadian role model.
Awards:
– Companion of the Order of Canada (CC)
– Meritorious Service Cross (MSC)
– Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces (CMM)
– Commander of the National Order of Quebec (COM)
– Commander of the Order of Military Merit (CQ)
– Canadian Forces Decoration (CD)
– Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (FCAE)