Robyn McCutcheon

Robyn Alice McCutcheon (born Robert Allen McCutcheon)[1] is an American diplomat, engineer and historian.

She received her master's degrees in astronomy from Yale University and master's degrees in Russian studies from Georgetown University.[2] She was previously an astronomer and historian.[3] She is known for her work on the history of Soviet astronomy.[4] She also has several publications to her credit on the history of Soviet and Russian science during the Stalin period.[2] She became a member of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) in 1983[5] and was a member of the Historical Astronomy Division (HAD) of the AAS[6] and chair of the AAS International Relations Committee.[7] She formerly worked at the Space Telescope Science Institute and the Computer Sciences Corporation.[8] She also worked as an engineer on NASA missions, primarily Hubble Space Telescope.[2][9]

She joined the US Department of State in 2004 and became a Foreign Service Officer in several countries, including Russia, Romania, Kazakhstan. She served at the Nuclear Risk Reduction Center in 2013–14.[9] McCutcheon is a trans woman and is the first person to transition while posted overseas.[9][10] She transitioned in 2011 in Romania.[1] She also served as president of the GLIFAA (Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies).[11]