Dr. Li’s directorate is responsible for JPL’s projects exploring Mars, including two orbiters (Mars Odyssey and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter), two famous rovers (Spirit and Opportunity), the Phoenix stationary laboratory which landed near the north pole of Mars in 2008, and the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover that was sent to the red planet in 2011 and landed there in 2012. In 2007, Dr. Li received the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal and in 2008, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal.