KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
KSC Release No. 29-00
Veteran Shuttle astronaut and senior Space Shuttle manager Loren J. Shriver has announced his departure from NASA/Kennedy Space Center effective March 31, 2000. Shriver has since been named the deputy program manager of operations for NASA’s prime contractor for the Shuttle program, United Space Alliance in Houston, TX.
Shriver served as the deputy director for launch and payload processing at KSC, since Aug. 17, 1997. In this capacity, he provided executive leadership, strategic planning, and direction for Kennedy’s agency-assigned responsibilities as the center of excellence for launch and payload processing systems which encompasses Space Shuttle processing and launch; payload processing, including the preparation of International Space Station elements; payload carriers; and expendable launch vehicles.
“I will really miss Loren. He provided extraordinary leadership in his broad areas of responsibility,” said KSC Director Roy Bridges. “All of us at KSC wish him well and look forward to seeing him often. He will bring tremendous knowledge and capabilities to USA’s Shuttle program management team.”
Shriver has held key Shuttle management positions at Kennedy for the past seven years and was previously the Space Shuttle program manager for launch integration, since May 14, 1993. In this capacity, he was responsible for final Shuttle preparation, mission execution, and return of the orbiter to Kennedy following landings at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. From October 1992, he served as deputy chief of the astronaut office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
“I had a great tour at KSC and learned an awful lot about the operations that happen down here. There is nothing like being here and experiencing the actual ground processing taking place. I will be able to apply all that I learned in my new job,” Shriver said. “I’ll miss everybody.”
Selected as an astronaut by NASA in January 1978, he was assigned as pilot for the first Department of Defense Space Shuttle mission, STS-10, in 1982. That mission was canceled, but he subsequently flew on three space flights: a Department of Defense mission, STS-51C, in 1985; the Hubble Space Telescope deployment mission, STS-31, in 1990; and the mission to release the European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) satellite, STS-46, in 1992. Altogether, he logged over 386 hours in space.
His accomplishments have earned him numerous awards including the United States Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. His NASA honors include the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, three NASA Space Flight Medals, the American Astronautical Society 1990 Flight Achievement Award, and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Haley Space Flight Award for 1990.
