Charles Chitwood Named NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Deputy Director

Dave King, Director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Ala., today named Charles B. Chitwood as the new Deputy Director of the center. Chitwood will succeed Rex Geveden who recently became NASA’s Chief Engineer at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. 

“I’m pleased that Charles Chitwood is joining NASA’s senior leadership team,” said William F. Readdy, Associate Administrator of the Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “As we ready the Space Shuttle to return to flight and work to realize the Vision for Space Exploration, this is a critical time for NASA. Charles’ management and leadership skills and his experience in industry make him a great addition to the NASA team.”

Prior to accepting this position with NASA, Chitwood served on the Board of Directors for the Schafer Corporation and led the system engineering and integration division. As general manager for Schafer’s Huntsville Operation, he led the development of the company’s system, software, test and specialty engineering processes. 

Prior to his experience with Schafer, Chitwood served in varying management and engineering positions with other technology and systems development companies and programs.  He worked for the Computer Sciences Corporation as the technical director for its U. S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command Scientific, Engineering and Technical Assistance Contract. Prior to that he served as general manager of the Huntsville Division of Coleman Technologies.

“Charles comes to NASA with impressive business and technical capabilities that will make him a valuable addition to our leadership.  I look forward to working closely with him to help the Marshall Center play a key role in fulfilling NASA’s Vision for Space Exploration,” said King.

Chitwood has authored more than 20 articles for scientific journals on basic research in high energy heavy ion nuclear physics. He holds a B.S. in Physics from Tennessee Technological University and has completed coursework toward a Ph.D. in Physics at Michigan State University.