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Shana L. Dale (born 1964 in Georgia) is the Deputy Administrator of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Dale was confirmed as Deputy Administrator on November 4, 2005, and sworn in on November 29, 2005.

Her nomination was announced by the White House on September 9, 2005, and sent her nomination to the Senate on September 13. Also on September 13, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin issued a press release saying he was "delighted" with the nomination and she would make a "valuable addition to NASA's team". He added later that it was he who recommended her for the position. She replaced Frederick Gregory as Deputy Administrator. She is the first woman to take that position and the highest-ranking woman at NASA in its history. Her nomination also quickly drew high praise from House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert, the Space Foundation, and NASAwatch.com.

At the time of her nomination, Dale worked in the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in the Executive Office of the President of the United States as Deputy Director for Homeland and National Security. She had previously worked simultaneously as Chief of Staff and General Counsel of OSTP. As her White House press release says, "Prior to that, she served as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Federal Relations for the University of Texas System. Earlier in her career, she served as Staff Director for the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science. Additionally, she served as Republican Counsel for both the Space and Science Subcommittees of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Tulsa and her JD from California Western School of Law. Her work as Staff Director of the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics of the Committee on Science involved substantial involvement with NASA. Her work as a congressional staffer also included participating in drafting federal law involving NASA, the Commercial Space Act of 1998. She was also involved in studies of the safety of the Mir space station and sensitive technology export controls for China. In 2000 Dale received an Outstanding Alumnus award from Women in Aerospace, for "service to the aerospace community" and "exemplary leadership abilities." She was admitted to the bars of both California and the District of Columbia in 1991.

She applied to work at NASA straight out of law school and didn't get the job. After being sworn in as deputy administrator, she joked that she could finally put NASA on her resumé. [1]

• White House press release on nomination of Shana Dale
• National Space Society press release on nomination of Shana Dale ("Shana is a decisive leader who will bring key policy and political skills to the front office of NASA... With strong relationships within the commercial, science, academic and policy arenas...")
• American Astronautical Society press release on nomination of Shana Dale ("Her political and policy experience in space related matters is extensive and will prove invaluable to NASA...")
• Findlaw attorney profile of Shana Dale (outdated)
• Shana Dale, interview with Dale by Federal Times, January 13, 2006