Historic Personnel - NASA (original) (raw)

NASA History Resource

Timelines and biographies for key personnel at NASA are presented here, as well as other information about the agency’s workforce.

NASA Administrators

Dr. T. Keith Glennan

August 19, 1958–January 20, 1961

Dr. Hugh L. Dryden

January 21–February 14, 1961 (Acting)

James E. Webb

February 14, 1961–October 7, 1968

Dr. Thomas O. Paine

October 8, 1968–March 21, 1969 (Acting)

Dr. Thomas O. Paine

March 21, 1969–September 15, 1970

Dr. George M. Low

September 16, 1970–April 26, 1971 (Acting)

Dr. James C. Fletcher

April 27, 1971–May 1, 1977

Dr. Alan M. Lovelace

May 2–June 20, 1977 (Acting)

Dr. Robert A. Frosch

June 21, 1977–January 20, 1981

Dr. Alan M. Lovelace

January 21–July 10, 1981 (Acting)

James M. Beggs

July 10, 1981–December 4, 1985

Dr. William R. Graham

December 4, 1985–May 11, 1986 (Acting)

Dr. James C. Fletcher

May 12, 1986–April 8, 1989

Dale D. Myers

April 8–May 13, 1989 (Acting)

Richard H. Truly

May 14–June 30, 1989 (Acting)

Richard H. Truly

July 1, 1989–March 31, 1992

Daniel S. Goldin

April 1, 1992–November 17, 2001

Dr. Daniel R. Mulville

November 19–December 21, 2001 (Acting)

Sean O'Keefe

December 21, 2001–February 11, 2005

Frederick D. Gregory

February 11–April 14, 2005 (Acting)

Dr. Michael Griffin

April 14, 2005–January 20, 2009

Christopher Scolese

January 21–July 16, 2009 (Acting)

Charles F. Bolden, Jr.

July 17, 2009–January 19, 2017

Robert M. Lightfoot, Jr.

January 20, 2017–April 22, 2018 (Acting)

James F. Bridenstine

April 23, 2018–January 20, 2021

Steve Jurczyk

January 20–May 3, 2021 (Acting)

Deputy Administrators

• Dr. Hugh L. Dryden, August 19, 1958–December 2, 1965
• Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr., December 21, 1965–January 5, 1968
• Dr. Thomas O. Paine, March 25, 1968–March 20, 1969
• Dr. George M. Low, December 3, 1969–June 5, 1976
• Dr. Alan M. Lovelace, July 2, 1976–July 10, 1981
• Dr. Hans Mark, July 10, 1981–September 1, 1984
• Dr. William R. Graham, November 25, 1985–December 4, 1985; May 11, 1986–October 1, 1986
• Dale D. Myers, October 6, 1986–May 13, 1989
• James R. Thompson, Jr., July 6, 1989–November 8, 1991
• Aaron Cohen, February 19–November 1, 1992 (Acting)
• John R. Dailey, November 3, 1992–December 31, 1999 (Acting)
• *Dr. Daniel R. Mulville, January 1, 2000–November 19, 2001; December 21, 2001–February 3, 2003 (*Dr. Mulville was never the official Deputy Administrator. Rather, during these time periods he served as the Associate Deputy Administrator)
• Frederick D. Gregory, August 12, 2002–February 20, 2005; April 14–November 4, 2005
• Shana Dale, November 4, 2005 –January 17, 2009
• Lori Garver, July 17, 2009–September 6, 2013
• Dava Newman, May 15, 2015–January 19, 2017
• Krista Paquin, September 11, 2017–May 2018 (Acting)
• Vacant, May 2018–October 17, 2018
• James Morhard, October 17, 2018–January 20, 2021
• Vacant, January 20–June 20, 2021
• Pam Melroy, June 21, 2021–

Center Directors

Ames Research Center (Moffett Field, California)

• Dr. Smith J. DeFrance, July 25, 1940–October 15, 1965: Engineer-in-Charge, NACA Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, July 25, 1940–June 24, 1947; Director, NACA Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, June 24, 1947–Oct. 1, 1958; Director, NASA Ames RC, October 1, 1958–October 15, 1965
• Dr. H. Julian Allen, October 15, 1965–November 15, 1968
• Dr. Hans Mark , February 20 1969–August 15, 1977
• Dr. Clarence A. Syvertson, August 15, 1977–April 30 1978 (Acting)
• Dr. Clarence A. Syvertson, April 30, 1978–January 13, 1984
• Dr. William F. Ballhaus Jr., January 16, 1984–February 1, 1988
• Dr. Dale L. Compton, February 1, 1988–February 1, 1989 (Acting)
• Dr. William F. Ballhaus Jr., February 1, 1989–July 15, 1989
• Dr. Dale L. Compton, July 15–December 20, 1989 (Acting); December 20, 1989–January 28, 1994
• Dr. Ken Munechika, January 28, 1994–March 4, 1996
• Dr. Henry McDonald, March 4, 1996–September 19, 2002
• Dr. Scott Hubbard, September 19, 2002–February 15, 2006
• Marvin Christensen, February 15, 2005–May 4, 2006 (Acting)
• Dr. Simon P. Worden, May 4, 2006–March 31, 2015
• Dr. Eugene L. Tu, May 4, 2015–

Armstrong Flight Research Center (various names under the NACA and until 1976; facility under Ames 1981–1994)

• Walter C. Williams , September 30, 1946–August 28, 1959: Supervisor, NACA Muroc Flight Test Unit, September 1946–Fall 1949; Supervisor, NACA High Speed Flight Research Station, Fall 1949–July 1, 1954; Director, NACA High Speed Flight Station, July 1, 1954–September 15, 1959
• Paul F. Bikle, September 15, 1959–May 31, 1971
• De E. Beeler, June 1, 1971–October 11, 1971 (Acting)
• Lee R. Scherer, October 11, 1971–January 19, 1975
• David R. Scott, April 18, 1975–October 30, 1977
• Isaac T. Gillam, October 30, 1977–June 18, 1978 (Acting)
• Isaac T. Gillam, June 18, 1978–October 1, 1981
• John A. Manke, Director of Flight Operations, Ames Research Center (after Dryden was consolidated with Ames as the Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility), October 1, 1981–April 27, 1984
• Martin Knutson, Director of Flight Operations and Site Director, Ames-Dryden FRF, May 1984-Dec. 2, 1990
• Kenneth J. Szalai (Facility Director), December 3, 1990–March 1, 1994
• Kenneth J. Szalai, March 1, 1994–July 31, 1998
• Kevin L. Petersen, August 1, 1998–February 7, 1999 (Acting)
• Kevin L. Petersen, February 8, 1999–April 3, 2009
• David D. McBride, April 4, 2009–January 3, 2010 (Acting)
• David D. McBride, January 4, 2010–December 4, 2022
• Bradley Flick, December 5, 2022–

Electronics Research Center (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

• Dr. Winston E. Kock, September 1, 1964–October 1, 1966
• James C. Elms, October 1, 1966–June 30 1970 (Closed June 30, 1970 at end of Fiscal Year)

Glenn (formerly Lewis) Research Center (Cleveland, Ohio)

• Dr. Edward R. Sharp, May 1942-December 31, 1960: Manager, NACA Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory, May 1942-June 1947; Director, NACA Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory, June 1947-September 1948; Director, NACA Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory, September 1948-September 1958; Director NASA LeRC, October 1, 1958-December 31, 1960
• Eugene J. Manganiello, January 1961–October 1961 (Acting)
• Dr. Abe Silverstein, November 1961–October 31, 1969
• Dr. Bruce T. Lundin, November 1, 1969–August 26, 1977
• Dr. Bernard Lubarsky, August 26, 1977–October 1, 1978 (Acting)
• Dr. John F. McCarthy, October 1, 1978–July 1, 1982
• Andrew J. Stofan, June 22, 1982–June 29, 1986
• Dr. John M. Klineberg, June 30, 1986–May 28, 1987 (Acting)
• Dr. John M. Klineberg, May 29, 1987–July 1, 1990
• Lawrence J. Ross, July 1, 1990–January 6, 1994
• Donald J. Campbell, January 6, 1994–October 1, 2003
• Dr. Julian M. Earls, October 1, 2003–December 25, 2005
• Dr. Woodrow Whitlow Jr., December 25, 2005–February 2010
• Ramon (Ray) Lugo III, March 1, 2010–July 17, 2010 (Acting)
• Ramon (Ray) Lugo III, July 18, 2010–January 3, 2013
• James M. Free, January 4, 2013–March 13, 2016
• Janet L. Kavandi, March 14, 2016–September 31, 2019
• Dr. Marla E. Perez-Davis, October 1, 2019–January 23, 2020 (Acting)
• Dr. Marla E. Perez-Davis, January 24, 2020–June 17, 2022
• Dr. Jimmy Kenyon, June 17, 2022–November 6, 2022 (Acting)
• Dr. Jimmy Kenyon, November 7, 2022–

Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, Maryland)

• Harry J. Goett, September 1, 1959–July 1965
• John F. Clark, May 5, 1966–July 1, 1976
• Dr. Robert S. Cooper, July 1, 1976–June 1, 1979
• Robert (Ed) Smylie, June 2, 1979–January 31, 1980 (Acting)
• Dr. A. Thomas Young, February 1, 1980–March 22, 1982
• Dr. Noel W. Hinners, June 14, 1982–June 22, 1987
• Dr. John W. Townsend, Jr., June 22, 1987–June 30, 1990
• Dr. John M. Klineberg, July 1, 1990–April 29, 1995
• Joseph H. Rothenberg, April 30, 1995–October 4, 1995 (Acting)
• Joseph H. Rothenberg, October 4, 1995–January 12, 1998
• Alphonse V. Diaz, January 12, 1998–August 2, 2004
• Dr. Edward J. Weiler, August 2, 2004–May 6, 2008
• Arthur F. “Rick” Obenschain, May 7, 2008–August 3, 2008 (Acting)
• Robert D. “Rob” Strain, August 4, 2008–March 4, 2012
• Christopher J. Scolese, March 5, 2012–July 31, 2019
• George Morrow, August 1, 2019–December 31, 2019 (Acting)
• Dennis Andrucyk, January 1, 2020–December 31, 2022
• David Mitchell, January 1, 2023–April 6, 2023 (Acting)
• Dr. Makenzie B. Lystrup, April 6, 2023–

Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Pasadena, California)

• Dr. William H. Pickering, October 1, 1958–March 31, 1976 (First director since its association with NASA. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory existed before October 1958.)
• Dr. Bruce C. Murray, April 1, 1976–June 30, 1982
• Gen. Charles H. Terhune, July–October, 1982
• Dr. Lew Allen, Jr., July 22, 1982–December 31, 1990
• Dr. Edward C. Stone, January 1, 1991–January 2001
• Dr. Charles Elachi, January 2001–June 2016
• Dr. Michael Watkins, July 2016–August 20, 2021
• Larry D. James, (Acting), August 21, 2021–May 15, 2022
• Dr. Laurie Leshin, May 16, 2022–

Johnson Space Center (Houston, Texas)

• Dr. Robert R. Gilruth , November 1, 1961–January 17, 1972
• Dr. Christopher C. Kraft, Jr., January 17, 1972–August 7, 1982
• Gerald D. Griffin, August 8, 1982–January 14, 1986
• Jesse W. Moore, January 23, 1986–October 2, 1986
• Aaron Cohen, October 12, 1986–August 20, 1993
• Dr. Carolyn Huntoon, January 6, 1994–August 4, 1995
• George W.S. Abbey, August 4, 1995–January 23, 1996 (Acting)
• George W.S. Abbey, January 23, 1996–February 23, 2001
• Roy S. Estess, February 23, 2001–April 1, 2002 (Acting)
• General Jefferson D. Howell, Jr., April 1, 2002–November 23, 2005
• Michael L. Coats, November 23, 2005–December 31, 2012
• Ellen Ochoa, January 1, 2013–May 25, 2018
• Mark Geyer, May 25, 2018–May 3, 2021
• Vanessa E. Wyche, May 4, 2021–June 29, 2021 (Acting)
• Vanessa E. Wyche, June 30, 2021–

Kennedy Space Center, Florida

• Dr. Kurt H. Debus, July 1, 1960–March 7, 1962 (As Launch Operations Directorate)
• Dr. Kurt H. Debus, March 7, 1962–October 9, 1974
• Miles Ross, October 10, 1974–January 28, 1975 (Acting)
• Lee R. Scherer, January 19, 1975–September 2, 1979
• Richard G. Smith, September 2, 1979–July 31, 1986
• Thomas E. Utsman, July 31, 1986–October 1, 1986 (Acting)
• Lt.Gen. Forrest S. McCartney, October 1, 1986–August 31, 1987 (on detail from USAF, retired August 31, 1987)
• Lt.Gen. Forrest S. McCartney, September 1, 1987–January 1, 1992 (Reappointed as Civilian)
• Robert L. Crippen, January 1, 1992–January 21, 1995
• Jay F. Honeycutt, January 21, 1995–March 2, 1997
• Roy D. Bridges, March 2, 1997–June 13, 2003
• James W. Kennedy, June 13, 2003–August 10, 2003 (Acting)
• James W. Kennedy, August 10, 2003–January 4, 2007
• William W. Parsons, January 4, 2007–October 26, 2008
• Robert D. Cabana, October 26, 2008–May 17, 2021
• Janet E. Petro, May 17, 2021–June 29, 2021 (Acting)
• Janet E. Petro, June 30, 2021–

Langley Research Center (Hampton, Virginia)

• Leigh M. Griffith, November 1, 1922–December 31, 1925 (Engineer-in-Charge, NACA LMAL)
• Henry J. E. Reid, January 1, 1926–May 20, 1960: January 1, 1926–June 1947 (Engineer-in-Charge, NACA LMAL); June 1947–May 1948 (Director, NACA LMAL); May 1948–October 1, 1958 (Director, NACA LAL); October 1, 1958–May 20, 1960 (Director)
• Floyd L. Thompson, May 23, 1960–May 1, 1968
• Edgar M. Cortright, May 1, 1968–September 26, 1975
• Dr. Donald P. Hearth, September 26, 1975–November 30, 1984
• Richard H. Petersen, December 3, 1984–December 2, 1991
• Paul F. Holloway, October 15, 1991–August 2, 1996
• Jeremiah F. Creedon, August 5, 1996–June 15, 2002
• Delma C. Freeman, Jr., June 15, 2002–June 13, 2003 (Acting)
• Roy D. Bridges, June 13, 2003–October 3, 2005
• Lesa B. Roe, October 3, 2005–April 28, 2014
• Stephen G. Jurczyk, April 28, 2014–March 1, 2015
• David E. Bowles, March 2, 2015–September 30, 2019
• Clayton P. Turner, September 30, 2019–July 15, 2024
• Dawn Schaible, July 16, 2024– (Acting)

Marshall Space Flight Center (Huntsville, Alabama)

• Dr. Wernher von Braun, July 1, 1960–January 27, 1970
• Dr. Eberhard F.M. Rees, March 1, 1970–January 19, 1973
• Dr. Rocco A. Petrone, January 26, 1973–March 15, 1974
• Dr. William R. Lucas, June 15, 1974–July 3, 1986
• James R. Thompson, September 29, 1986–July 6, 1989
• Thomas J. Lee, July 6, 1989–January 6, 1994
• G.P. (Porter) Bridwell, January 6, 1994–February 3, 1996
• Dr. J. Wayne Littles, February 3, 1996–January 1998
• Carolyn S. Griner, January 1998–September 1998 (Acting)
• Arthur G. Stephenson, September 1998–May, 2003
• David A. King, June 15, 2003–March 26, 2009
• Robert M. Lightfoot, Jr., March 26–July 2009 (Acting)
• Robert M. Lightfoot, Jr., August 2009–March 4, 2012
• Arthur E. “Gene” Goldman, March 5–August 3, 2012 (Acting)
• Robin Henderson, August 4, 2012–September 24, 2012 (Acting)
• Patrick Scheuermann, September 25, 2012–November 13, 2015
• Todd May, November 14, 2015–January 31, 2016 (Acting)
• Todd May, February 1, 2016–July 27, 2018
• Jody Singer, July 27–September 12, 2018 (Acting)
• Jody Singer, September 13, 2018–July 29, 2023
• Joseph Pelfrey, July 29, 2023–February 5, 2024 (Acting)
• Joseph Pelfrey, February 5, 2024–

Stennis Space Center (Bay St. Louis, Mississippi)

• Capt. William C. Fortune, September 1963–May 1965 (Manager, Mississippi Test Operation)
• Jackson M. Balch, July 1, 1965–June 14, 1974 (Manager, Mississippi Test Facility)
• Jackson M. Balch, June 14, 1974–August 31, 1976 (Manager, National Space Technology Laboratories)
• Jerry Hlass, September 1, 1976–May 20, 1988 (Manager, National Space Technology Laboratories)
• Jerry Hlass, May 20, 1988–January 23, 1989 (Director, Stennis Space Center)
• Roy S. Estess, January 23, 1989–February 22, 2001
• Mark K. Craig, February 23, 2001–April 1, 2002 (Acting)
• Roy S. Estess, April 2, 2002–August 24, 2002
• William W. Parsons, Jr., August 25, 2002–May 9, 2003
• Michael U. Rudolphi, May 9, 2003–January 5, 2004 (Interim Director)
• Thomas Q. Donaldson, January 5, 2004–September 19, 2005
• William W. Parsons, Jr., September 19, 2005–January 23, 2006
• Richard J. Gilbrech, January 23, 2006–October 2007
• Robert D. Cabana, October 2007–October 15, 2008
• Arthur E. “Gene” Goldman, October 15, 2008–February 28, 2010
• Patrick Scheuermann, March 1, 2010–September 24, 2012
• Richard J. Gilbrech, September 25, 2012–January 13, 2024
• John W. Bailey, Jr., January 13, 2024–April 28, 2024 (Acting)
• John W. Bailey, Jr., April 29, 2024–present

Wallops Flight Facility (Wallops Island, Virginia)

• Robert L. Krieger, June 30, 1948–July 31, 1981
• Abraham D. Spinak, August 1, 1981–September 30, 1981 (Acting)
• Warren Keller, October 1, 1981–February 23, 1989 (Senior Official. Placed under Goddard Space Flight Center for Management Purposes)
• Joseph P. McGoogan, February 24, 1989–January 3, 1995
• Arnold Torres, January 8, 1995–January 3, 2002
• John Campbell, January 13, 2002–December 31, 2009
• William Wrobel, January 1, 2010–January 18, 2010 (Acting)
• William Wrobel, January 19, 2010–February 2019
• David L. Pierce, February 2019–

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