posted 05-14-2018 03:09 PM               

NASA Announces New Director of Johnson Space Center

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced Monday (May 14) the selection of Mark Geyer as the next director of the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston. He will assume the director's position on May 25, when current Center Director and former astronaut Ellen Ochoa retires after 30 years at the agency.

As Johnson's center director, he will lead one of NASA's largest installations, which has about 10,000 civil service and contractor employees — including those at White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico — and oversee a broad range of human spaceflight activities.

"Mark brings with him almost three decades of distinguished NASA leadership experience at the program, center and headquarters levels — he's managed and he's worked his way through the ranks and knows what it's going to take to get our astronauts back to the Moon and on to Mars. Johnson has been NASA's home base for astronauts and mission control throughout our history, and Mark is eminently qualified to carry on this historic legacy," said Bridenstine. "I also want to thank Ellen for her years of service to America and this agency. Her legacy and contributions to this center and to NASA are timeless. She will be missed."

Geyer currently is serving as the acting deputy associate administrator for Technical for the Human Explorations and Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. In this position, which he assumed Oct. 1, 2017, he's responsible for assisting the associate administrator in providing strategic direction for all aspects of NASA's human spaceflight exploration mission. Before that, Geyer served as deputy center director at Johnson until September 2017.

"It's an honor to be appointed to lead the men and women of this proud center," Geyer said. "The Johnson Space Center has unique capabilities that are critical to NASA's ability to execute our mission to take humans farther into the solar system, and I look forward to working with each and every one of you on the ambitious tasks ahead."

Born in Indianapolis, Geyer earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics Engineering as well as his Master of Science degree in Aeronautics from Purdue University in Indiana. Geyer is the recipient of the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, Meritorious Executive Rank Award and the Distinguished Executive Rank Award.

posted 05-03-2021 12:41 PM               

Johnson Space Center Director Mark Geyer Moves To New Role

Mark Geyer, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, is stepping down from his position leading the center to focus more time on his health and family in light of a cancer diagnosis.

"Mark has had an exceptional impact on this agency, leading the nation's key human spaceflight programs for decades. Under Mark's leadership, Johnson has moved the United States into a new era of human space exploration," said NASA Administrator Sen. Bill Nelson. "We're fortunate to continue to have Mark and his decades of expertise serving the agency in his new role as senior advisor to the associate administrator."

"It has been my honor to lead the Johnson Space Center team," Geyer said. "JSC is a group of extremely talented professionals all dedicated to the mission of expanding human exploration of the solar system. The diverse scope of work they accomplished and the challenges they overcame inspired me every day. I have been so blessed to work here."

Before being named to lead Johnson in May 2018, Geyer's career has included key positions in the International Space Station Program, serving as program manager of the Orion Program, and supporting the agency as deputy associate administrator in the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. He is the recipient of the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and Meritorious and Distinguished Presidential Rank Awards.

Vanessa Wyche, who has served as deputy director of Johnson since August 2018, will serve as acting director. Before becoming deputy director, Wyche, a 31-year NASA veteran, served as assistant center director, director of the center's Exploration Integration and Science Directorate, 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.