Susan Mitchell Chang

1957 - 2025

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Susan "Sue" Chang, who passed away on February 11, 2025, at the age of 67, surrounded by her children. A brilliant mind, a dedicated leader, and a loving mother, Sue's influence will be felt for generations.

Born on November 29, 1957, in Queens, New York, to Ann and Al Mitchell, Sue was instilled with a strong work ethic and a deep love of learning. By 16, she had already embraced the value of hard work, taking on jobs such as toll supervisor at Robert Moses State Park, one of her beloved beaches on Long Island. She cherished family vacations in Saratoga Springs and ski trips to Okemo and Mount Snow, VT, where she later built a vacation home. Sue earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Applied Mathematics and began her career as a teacher in the Three Village School District before transitioning to telecommunications after moving to Virginia.

Sue's intellect and personable leadership propelled her to senior roles at Stanford Telecom, ITT Corporation, and Exelis, where she secured major NASA and Department of Defense (DoD) contracts. As Vice President and General Manager, she led a business unit specializing in space operations and radio frequency and spectrum engineering services for NASA, DoD, and other agencies. She later joined NASA, most recently serving as Director of Network Services, overseeing space communications and tracking operations critical to U.S. spaceflight missions. Sue was a distinguished member of the Senior Executive Service of the U.S. Government.

With over 40 years in business, engineering, telecommunications, and public service, Sue managed some of the most complex and large-scale programs in the history of space operations. Her colleagues remember her as a visionary leader and mentor who championed young engineers, many of whom credit her for shaping their careers.

Beyond her professional achievements, Sue was a devoted mother to Kellie and Ryan, always prioritizing her time with them, no matter how busy her career was. She loved traveling, with favorite destinations including Italy, Turkey, France, Spain, and Australia. She had a passion for shopping —especially shoes and purses— and enjoyed singing along to Fleetwood Mac, James Taylor, and America. Though she built her career in Virginia, her New York accent always returned when speaking with family.

Sue is survived by her children, her mother, and her sisters, Alison, Ann Marie, and Lynn, as well as many extended family members, colleagues, and friends who were touched by her warmth and wisdom.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, February 24, at 10:30 a.m. at Saint Luke's Catholic Church in McLean, VA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to WomenInAerospaceFoundation.org, an organization close to Sue's heart.