NASA Names New Highest-Ranking Civil Servant, Head of Exploration

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson revealed Wednesday Jim Free’s promo to associate administrator for the firm at NASA Headquarters in Washington, efficient when his predecessor Bob Cabana retires on Sunday, Dec. 31. Given that September 2021, Free has actually acted as the associate administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD).

Nelson likewise revealed Free’s deputy, Catherine Koerner, will prosper him as the next head of the objective directorate.

“So numerous people in the NASA household have actually dealt with Jim and have actually been motivated by his character and intelligence. Pam, Bob, and I highly think that his wealth of experience and know-how will bring extraordinary assistance and point of view to our management group in his brand-new function as associate administrator, improving our cumulative efforts towards attaining vibrant objectives for the advantage of all humankind,” stated Administrator Nelson. Cathy’s experience as the ESDMD deputy partner administrator– including her management in developing and specifying future area expedition architectures while supervising the advancement of our deep area transport systems– has actually prepared her for this brand-new function as associate administrator for ESDMD. Cathy’s management will assist NASA continue to extend humankind’s reach in the universes. Congratulations, Jim and Cathy!”

As associate administrator, Free will end up being NASA’s 3rd highest-ranking executive, in addition to highest-ranking civil servant. This function acts as a senior consultant to Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. When he presumes his function, Free likewise will lead the company’s 10 center directors, and 5 objective directorate partner administrators at NASA Headquarters. He will function as the firm’s chief running officer for more than 18,000 workers and a yearly budget plan of more than $25 billion.

Before his consultation to associate administrator of Exploration Systems Development in 2021, Free invested a number of years in different economic sector functions. He left NASA in 2017 after functioning as the firm’s deputy partner administrator for technical in the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters.

Prior to signing up with NASA Headquarters, he worked his method up to center director at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Ohio, where he was accountable for preparation, arranging, and directing the activities needed in achieving the objectives designated to the. Free has actually served a range of functions at NASA centers considering that starting his profession in 1990 at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

A local of Northeast Ohio, Free made his bachelor’s degree in aeronautics from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and his master’s degree in area systems engineering from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

Free is the recipient of the Presidential Rank Award, NASA Distinguished Service Medal, NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, NASA Significant Achievement Medal, and many other awards.

In her brand-new function as the associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, Koerner will presume obligation for the advancement of NASA’s Moon to Mars architecture, specifying and handling the systems advancement for Artemis objectives, and preparing for incorporated deep area expedition method.

As deputy partner administrator for the objective directorate, Koerner offers management and management of human spaceflight advancement and operations connected to NASA’s Moon and Mars expedition objectives. She presently is accountable for developing and specifying future area expedition architectures while managing advancement of brand-new area transport systems and supporting abilities that are crucial for human-led deep area expedition and clinical research study.

Prior to her positions at NASA Headquarters, Koerner was NASA’s Orion Program supervisor at NASA Johnson, where she was accountable for oversight of style, advancement, and screening of the Orion spacecraft. Before leading the Orion Program, Koerner acted as the director of Human Health and Performance Directorate, concentrating on improving team health and efficiency and mitigating threats related to human spaceflight.

As a previous NASA flight director, Koerner led groups in NASA’s objective control throughout area shuttle bus and International Space Station objectives. She likewise formerly held a number of management positions within the spaceport station program throughout its assembly stage and handled NASA’s freight resupply services agreements for it, assisting cultivate a business area market in low Earth orbit. Before Johnson, she operated at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.

Koerner made her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in aerial and astronautical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has actually gotten various awards consisting of a Presidential Rank Award in 2019, 2 Outstanding Leadership Medals (2006, 2013), NASA’s Exceptional Service Medal (2007 ), Johnson’s Center Director Commendation (2017) and various Group Achievement Awards.

For more about NASA’s objectives, see:

https://www.nasa.gov

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Jackie McGuinness/ Cheryl Warner
Head office, Washington
202-358-1600
jackie.mcguinness@nasa.gov/cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov