posted 06-30-2021 01:00 PM               

NASA Administrator Names Johnson and Kennedy Center Directors

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has named Vanessa Wyche director of the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston and Janet Petro director of Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Wyche has served as the acting director of Johnson since May 3 and Petro has served as the acting director of Kennedy since May 17.

"Both Vanessa and Janet are exceptional leaders who will help propel NASA forward as we venture farther out into the cosmos than ever before," said Nelson. "It's an incredible time at NASA, and with Vanessa and Janet leading the Johnson and Kennedy Space Centers, NASA will embark on a new era of space exploration – starting with the Artemis I launch to the Moon later this year."

Above: Vanessa Wyche, director of the NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

"I'm humbled and honored to be chosen to lead the more than 10,000 employees at Johnson Space Center, who work each day to enhance scientific and technological knowledge via space exploration to benefit all of humankind," Wyche said. "As the home to America's astronaut corps, International Space Station mission operations, the Orion and Gateway programs, and a host of future space developments, Johnson is a world leader in human space exploration and is playing a key role in the next giant leaps in American excellence in space. I look forward to working with everyone as we push forward to the Moon and inspire a new generation of explorers to reach for the stars."

"It's an honor to be selected to lead Kennedy Space Center," Petro said. "Having grown up on Florida's Space Coast and being the second generation in my family to work at Kennedy Space Center, it's truly exciting to help grow the multi-user spaceport as we prepare for Artemis and continue launching commercial crew missions to the International Space Station."

Before being named acting director, Wyche had served as deputy director of Johnson since August 2018. Wyche, a 31-year NASA veteran, also served as assistant center director at Johnson and director of the center's Exploration Integration and Science Directorate, and worked in the executive office of the NASA administrator, served as a flight manager for multiple space shuttle missions, and has led other center-level technical and program organizations. Wyche is a native of South Carolina and earned a Bachelor of Science in engineering and Master of Science in bioengineering from Clemson University. Wyche is the first African American woman to lead a NASA center.

"Vanessa is a tenacious leader who has broken down barriers throughout her career," said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. "Vanessa's more than three decades at NASA and program experience in almost all of the human spaceflight programs at Johnson is an incredible asset to the agency. In the years to come, I'm confident that Houston will continue to lead the way in human spaceflight."

As Johnson's director, Wyche will lead a center that is central to NASA's human spaceflight missions and home to the nation's astronaut corps, International Space Station mission operations, the Orion Program, and more.

Above: Janet Petro, director of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Prior to being named Kennedy's acting director, Petro had served as the center's deputy director since 2007. She was central to Kennedy's transition to a multi-user spaceport, bringing a variety of new commercial and government partners to Kennedy. She led cross-agency initiatives with the Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Air Force to streamline government processes and support commercial space operations, increase government efficiency, and limit redundancy.

Petro began her professional career as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. She graduated in 1981 from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, with a Bachelor of Science in engineering and was in the second class of West Point graduates to include women. Petro also holds a Master of Science in business administration from Boston University's Metropolitan College.

"Janet was an incredible partner leading Kennedy over the past 14 years, and I couldn't be happier that she will take over in a permanent capacity. There is no one better to lead the incredible team at Kennedy," said NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana. "I'm confident that under Janet's leadership, Kennedy will continue to grow, building on its legacy as the United States' premier multi-user spaceport and supporting NASA and private industry's activities throughout the solar system."

At Kennedy, Petro will oversee the center's world class multi-user spaceport, supporting both commercial customers and NASA's science and human exploration missions.

posted 07-09-2021 01:51 PM               

Manning Assumes Deputy Reins at Kennedy Space Center

Kelvin Manning has been selected as deputy director of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In that role, Manning will share responsibility with Kennedy Director Janet Petro in managing the Kennedy team of civil service and contractor employees, determining and implementing center policy, and managing and executing Kennedy missions and agency program responsibilities.

Above: Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Kelvin Manning participates in a virtual town hall meeting at the Florida spaceport on July 9, 2021. (NASA/Ben Smegelsky)

Manning previously served as the center's technical associate director. In that capacity, he was responsible for ensuring safe and effective execution of the center's technical capabilities, including establishing strategies and policies to ensure alignment of the Kennedy workforce, facilities, and operations to facilitate agency program and project goals. In doing so, he helped propel the world's premiere multi-user spaceport to advance America's leadership in space.

Manning began his career at Kennedy in 1992 and has served in a number of positions within the former Shuttle Processing Directorate, including flow director for space shuttle Atlantis, acting chief engineer for shuttle upgrades, vehicle manager for space shuttle Columbia, and NASA test director. Later in the Kennedy Constellation Project Office, Manning became the first division chief for NASA's Orion spacecraft. More recently, he served on the last two NASA Astronaut Candidate Selection Boards.

Born in Fort Meade, Maryland, as an "Army brat," Manning traveled throughout the United States and has resided in Texas, New Jersey, Indiana, Hawaii, Illinois, and Maryland. After graduating from Aberdeen High School in Aberdeen, Maryland, Manning went on to obtain a bachelor's degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In addition, Manning has a master's degree in industrial engineering from the University of Central Florida in Orlando and has completed the Senior Executive Fellows Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

As an Air Force officer, Manning served six years as a space operations analyst, stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and NORAD Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs. Following his military service and prior to joining NASA, Manning was an engineer with General Electric Aerospace, Military and Data Systems Operations, in Springfield, Virginia, and McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Company in Washington.

Petro, who was named Kennedy's director in June 2021, previously held the center's deputy director position. Petro assumed the role of center director after former Kennedy director Bob Cabana was named NASA's associate administrator in May.

posted 07-12-2021 08:50 PM               

NASA Announces New Johnson Space Center Deputy Director

NASA Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche announced Monday the selection of Stephen A. Koerner as the next deputy director of the center.

Koerner will assist Wyche in leading one of NASA's largest installations, which has more than 10,000 civil service and contractor employees — including those at White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico — and is responsible for a broad range of human spaceflight activities.

"Steve's fingerprints on human spaceflight go back almost three decades, and his experience and knowledge base make him a natural choice for the position," Wyche said. "As the Johnson Space Center continues its excellence in human spaceflight and embarks on new endeavors, Steve's experience as a technical leader with business acuity makes him an invaluable asset to the center."

Koerner has served as director of Johnson's Flight Operations Directorate since 2019, overseeing the organization that includes the astronaut office, the flight director's office, mission control, human spaceflight trainers and training facilities, as well as Johnson's aircraft operations division. Prior to that, he spent time as Johnson's associate director and chief financial officer.

"It's hard to imagine a more exciting time to be at NASA, and I am honored to have the opportunity to assume this new role," Koerner said. "I hope to provide value to the agency, to the center, and to Vanessa."

Norm Knight, who has been the deputy director of the Flight Operations Directorate since 2018, has been chosen to take on the role of director in Koerner's place.

Koerner came to Johnson in 1992 as a space shuttle flight controller. He supported 41 space shuttle flights from mission control before moving into leadership roles that led him to become manager for the Mission Operations Directorate's International Space Station Operations. He became deputy director of the Mission Operations Directorate in 2007 and remained in that position for 10 years, helping to see the office through a merger with the Flight Crew Operations Directorate that resulted in the creation of the current Flight Operations Directorate.

Koerner is a native of Stow, Ohio. He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Akron in Ohio, and a master's degree in business administration from LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas.