CLEVELAND — NASA’s Glenn Research Center Director Ramon “Ray” Lugo III confirmed the November selections of new senior management appointments at the center. The changes became effective Jan. 16, 2011.
“These senior executive appointments are not only major steps in each individual’s career, they are also critical to Glenn Research Center’s mission,” Lugo said. “Each brings a level of expertise that will have a significant impact on the center achieving its goals; making Glenn the absolute best we can be.”
James M. Free has been appointed Glenn’s deputy director. In this position, he will share responsibility with Director Lugo in managing the activities required in accomplishing all the missions assigned to the center. Free has been the director of Space Flight Systems since September 2009.
Prior to his assignment as director of Space Flight Systems, Free served as chief of Glenn’s Orion Projects Office and as the Orion test and verification manager reporting directly to the Orion project manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. He also served as the launch vehicle and autonomous rendezvous and docking manager for the Prometheus spacecraft and as the LOx-methane engine project manager. Before joining Glenn in 1999, Free began his career at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., working on a variety of spacecraft.
Free holds a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and a master’s degree in space systems engineering from Delft University in the Netherlands. He is a recipient of a NASA Exceptional Service Medal and the Civil Service Excellence Award.
Bryan K. Smith has been appointed director of Space Flight Systems. In this position, he is responsible for managing the activities assigned to Glenn that include roles in the agency’s exploration systems, Space Shuttle, International Space Station and Human Research and Science programs. He has served as chief of Glenn’s Systems Engineering and Analysis Division since October 2009.
Smith joined Glenn in 1987, leading the design and test activities for the development of the International Space Station power system. Since then, Smith has held various positions with increasing responsibility, and served as chief in numerous project and engineering offices including chief of the Crew Exploration Vehicle Project Office and chief engineer for the NASA Engineering and Safety Center.
Smith earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, and master’s degrees in engineering from Cleveland State University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a recipient of the NASA Significant Achievement Medal.
John D. Taylor has been appointed chief of the Systems Engineering and Analysis Division, reporting to Glenn’s director of engineering. In his new position, he will assume responsibility for the systems engineering, management, analysis and integration for the center’s aeronautics and space programs and projects. He will serve as a member of the engineering leadership team providing advice and recommendations to the center director. In addition, he will provide oversight to all Glenn project engineering efforts.
Before being appointed to this new position, Taylor served as chief of the Power and Avionics Division since February 2007. He joined NASA in 1982, and since that time has progressed through the ranks as a branch chief on the Space Station Freedom Program, chief of the Engineering Development Division where he managed the in-house development engineering and manufacturing performed at Glenn in support of the center’s aeronautics and space projects, and chief of the Exploration Systems Division where he was responsible for completion of every exploration program component conducted at Glenn.
Taylor earned his bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan.
Therese Griebel has been appointed chief of the Avionics and Electrical Systems Division, reporting to Glenn’s director of engineering. Serving in this capacity, she will be responsible for the development of power, communications, avionics and software systems for space flight systems.
Prior to this appointment, Griebel served as the space flight systems liaison for External Government Projects, where she identified partnering and collaboration opportunities between NASA and the Department of Defense to further missions for both agencies. From July 2007 through February 2010, she served as the chief of the Manufacturing Division where she was responsible for managing the fabrication, instrumentation and assembly of the Ares I-X Upper Stage Simulator flight hardware. She also served as the deputy chief of Glenn’s Orion Deputy Project Office and as the Prometheus technology manager and deputy spacecraft manager.
Griebel holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a Masters of Business Administration from Cleveland State University. She is a recipient of multiple NASA honor awards, including the Outstanding Leadership Medal.
Portraits of these senior executives are available at: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/news/pressrel/2011/11-04_addm.html
