George T. Whitesides

George Thomas Whitesides (born March 3, 1974) is an American politician and businessman who has served as the U.S. representative for California's 27th congressional district since 2025. He previously held leadership roles in the space industry and government, including as chief of staff at NASA and CEO of Virgin Galactic. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

For over a decade, Whitesides led Virgin Galactic, overseeing the development of commercial spaceflight vehicles at the Mojave Air and Space Port. He still serves on the company's advisory board. Earlier in his career, he was chief of staff at NASA under Administrator Charles Bolden, following his role on the agency's transition team for the Obama administration.

Whitesides' district covers northern Los Angeles County, and includes Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster, and parts of the northwestern San Fernando Valley.