Kevin Petersen, Director, Dryden Flight Research Center
(DFRC), Edwards, Calif., today named Steven Schmidt as Deputy
Director.
Petersen said, "I am pleased and excited to have Steve back
at Dryden. His experience and technical expertise will be
invaluable assets as we continue to advance aviation research
and development."
Schmidt has served as the Special Assistant to the NASA
Administrator since January 2002. He is serving as the
Executive Director for the President’s Space Commission. He
also served as the Executive Secretary for Management on the
Columbia Accident Investigation Board, and as the Executive
Assistant for the International Space Station Management and
Cost Evaluation Task Force.
NASA’s Deputy Administrator Frederick Gregory said, "Steve is
a great addition to the Dryden leadership team. His diverse
background, knowledge of aeronautics research, management
skills and business acumen will be invaluable as we implement
the Vision for Space Exploration."
Schmidt joined NASA in November 1994. He was involved with
various programs at DFRC, including the X-33, X-38, X-43A, F-
15 ACTIVE and SR-71, until December 2001, when he became the
Assistant to the Associate Center Director for Planning.
Prior to joining NASA, Schmidt was employed by the Rockwell
International Corporation. He started as an aerospace
engineer in 1983 in the company’s Space Shuttle manufacturing
operations facility in Palmdale, Calif. In 1984, he became a
project engineer at the company’s B-1B bomber facilities in
El Segundo, Calif.
He was a qualified flight crewmember in the full-scale
development, testing, and acceptance flight-testing in the B-
1B program. He was also involved in C-130 gunship, Australian
F-111 Pave Tack, X-30 National Aerospace Plane, and other
development programs. Until 1994, he was the lead flight test
engineer on the X-31 Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability
program, and various research and development programs.
Schmidt began his aeronautics career in 1977 as an aerospace
engineer at the Air Force Fight Test Center (AFFTC), Edwards,
Calif., and participated in many programs there through 1982.
He was involved in many research and development programs as
an aerospace/flight test engineer, including the A-10, F-4,
F-16, F-111, B-1A/B, and B-52. He also qualified as a flight
crewmember on these programs.
Schmidt graduated from California State University, Fresno,
Calif., in 1977 with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering,
and continued his education toward a Master of Science in
Mechanical Engineering program. In 2000, he completed the
certificate in public administration from Syracuse
University, N.Y. He also completed a Fellowship in the
National Security Studies Program at Syracuse. He graduated
with honors from Syracuse University with a degree in Public
Administration in 2001.
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