Ramon “Ray” Lugo, acting director of NASA’s Glenn Research Center since shortly after Woodrow Whitlow moved to NASA Headquarters in February, will become the Cleveland field center’s permanent director July 18.

Lugo was named Glenn’s deputy director in November 2007. Before that he was deputy manager of NASA’s Launch Services Program at Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden announced Lugo’s selection in a July 9 statement, calling the 35-year NASA veteran “a tremendous leader who brings decades of experience and portent skills to this job.”

Glenn specializes in space power, propulsion and communications as well as aeronautics and microgravity research.