NASA Names Acting Leaders for Two Key Human Spaceflight Roles
Editor’s note: This release was updated on Thursday, February 26 to reflect the effective date of the leadership changes.
On Thursday, NASA announced that Joel Montalbano will serve as acting associate administrator for the Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD) at NASA Headquarters in Washington, and Dana Hutcherson will serve as acting program manager of the Commercial Crew Program, effective immediately.
SOMD’s programs and activities include the Commercial Crew Program, Commercial Low Earth Orbit Program, Human Research Program, International Space Station Program, Launch Services Program, Rocket Propulsion Test Program, Space Communications and Navigation Program, Space Sustainability, and Human Spaceflight Capabilities.
The two leaders were previously deputies in their respective functions.
“Strong leadership is essential to advancing NASA’s mission, and Joel Montalbano and Dana Hutcherson are exceptionally qualified to serve in these interim roles,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “Their experience and commitment will help ensure that we implement the President’s National Space Policy, maintain American leadership in low Earth orbit, and build the capabilities required to achieve the impossible beyond.”
Kenneth Bowersox previously announced his retirement, effective Friday March 6.
Montalbano’s top priorities will include establishing a low-Earth orbit economy before the retirement of the International Space Station and maintaining U.S. superiority in space.
Prior to his role at Headquarters, Montalbano served as Program Manager for the International Space Station at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where he was responsible for the overall management, development, integration and operation of the orbiting laboratory. He also served in a variety of other capacities, including Deputy Program Director of the International Space Station Program Office; director of NASA’s human spaceflight program in Russia; and a NASA flight director. He began his career at Rockwell in 1988 and became a NASA official that same year.
During his career, he received numerous honors, including the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the Johnson Space Center Directors’ Commendation, the Meritorious Executive Rank conferred by the President of the United States, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal (twice), the Superior Achievement Award, the NASA Exceptional Leadership Medal, the Rotary Space Award Nominee, and much more.
Montalbano holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace, aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Iowa State University.
Through the CCP, Hutcherson will continue its work with the U.S. aerospace industry to develop safe, reliable and cost-effective crew transportation systems for destinations in low Earth orbit, including the International Space Station. She is responsible for facilitating the development, certification and operations of spacecraft to enable the safe transportation of NASA astronauts for the Commercial Crew Program.
Hutcherson previously served as deputy director of the CCP Systems Engineering and Integration Office and deputy director of the program’s Launcher Systems Office. She also served as NASA Streams Director in the Launch Vehicle Processing Directorate at Kennedy and held other positions at NASA. Before joining NASA, she began her career at United Space Alliance as an airframe engineer.
Hutcherson has received numerous prestigious honors, including the Meritorious Presidential Rank Award, NASA’s Space Flight Awareness Leadership Award, and the Outstanding Leadership Medal.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta and a Master of Science degree in industrial engineering and engineering management from the University of Central Florida in Orlando.
To learn more about NASA’s mission, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/
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Bethany Stevens / Cheryl Warner
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
bethany.c.stevens@nasa.gov / cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov
