HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Larry Leopard has been appointed to the Senior Executive Service position of deputy manager in the Engineering Directorate’s Propulsion Systems Department at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
The Senior Executive Service is the personnel system covering top managerial positions in some 75 federal agencies.
In his new role, Leopard will help direct development of integrated propulsion engineering products and services that are provided to NASA, other government agencies and the commercial propulsion development community for the next generation of space transportation and propulsion systems, including the Ares I rocket. Ares I, NASA’s newest launch vehicle, will send crew members on board the Orion crew launch vehicle into space, paving the way for NASA’s new human exploration endeavor to the moon and beyond.
Leopard has 20 years of engineering, leadership and management experience in the fields of propulsion systems, and component design and development for space transportation technologies and flight systems.
After receiving a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1987 from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Leopard worked for Martin Marietta Corporation as a propulsion engineer supporting the Marshall Center’s Propulsion Systems Laboratory. Since joining NASA Marshall in 1990, he has served in progressively responsible leadership positions supporting numerous NASA programs and projects, including the Space Shuttle Main Engine Technology Test Bed; Rocket-Based Combined Cycle propulsion technology; Cobra and RS-83 prototype engines; Fastrac 60K engine; all shuttle propulsion elements; and the X-33 and X-34 experimental vehicle programs.
Following Leopard’s selection to NASA’s Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program in 2006, he completed developmental assignments at NASA Headquarters in Washington, in the Marshall Center’s Shuttle Propulsion Office, and at United Launch Alliance’s Delta II and IV Manufacturing and Assembly Plant in Decatur, Ala.
Leopard has received numerous NASA awards, including the Medal for Outstanding Leadership; Medal for Exceptional Achievement leading the Integrated Propulsion Technology Demonstrator team; a Silver Snoopy Award from the Astronaut Corps for contributions to the success of human space flight missions; multiple Center Director’s Commendations; and numerous group achievement and special service awards.
A native of Athens, Ala., Leopard and his wife, the former Shane Bates, have two children and reside in Athens.
