Historic Personnel
NASA History National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) People of NASA
Michele Ostovar
Timelines and biographies for key personnel at NASA are presented, as well as other information about the agency's workforce.
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NASA
NASA History Resource

Personnel

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)

Bill Nelson

May 3, 2021–

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–

Senior Leadership Oral Histories

Oral history interviews with NASA’s senior leadership document their experiences, their personal histories, the lessons learned, their thoughts on NASA’s past, and the decisions made that have directed NASA’s priorities over the years and continue to do so into the future.

Explore the Transcripts about Senior Leadership Oral Histories

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–

biographies

NASA Astronauts

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The NASA Workforce

Every year since the Apollo Era, NASA Headquarters has published a “NASA Civil Service Workforce Report.” It has contained information on the size, demographics, and dynamics of the Agency workforce—including hires, losses, awards, grades, salaries, and other such data. The report breaks most this information down by Center. Beginning in 1995 NASA has made the workforce report available only via the Web. Another good source is the Federal Workforce Data provided by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management where one can get information about the entire federal workforce (including NASA or any other Agency).