James R. Heald has been named director of the Spaceport Engineering
and Technology organization at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), effective June
11, 2001.
In this position, Heald is responsible for leading the center’s
efforts for integrated engineering and spaceport technology development.
Also, he will lead KSC’s spaceport engineering and technology organizational
efforts in building KSC into a premier spaceport science and engineering
organization.
Prior to joining NASA, Heald served 26 years in the U. S. Air Force.
His most recent assignment was as vice commander, Air Force Research
Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. There, he played a key
role in directing the Air Force’s science and technology program.
Heald is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy,
Colorado Springs, Colo., earning a bachelor degree in computer science and
mathematics in 1975. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a second
lieutenant. He received a master’s degree in computer science from
University of California at Los Angeles in 1976.
He is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School,
Edwards AFB, Calif., distinguished graduate, Air Command and Staff College,
Maxwell, AFB, Ala., and an outstanding graduate of the Air War College.
Heald is rated as a master navigator and has logged over 2300 hours of
flying time in more than 30 different types of aircraft. He served as the
director of student training, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB,
Calif., from July 1989-July 1991. Prior to his assignment at
Wright-Patterson, AFB, Ohio, he served as commander, 46th Operations Group,
Air Force Development Test Center, Eglin AFB, Fla.
Heald is a native of Fort Leavenworth, Kan. He is married to the former
Patricia K. McCollum of Scottsdale, Ariz . They have two adult children,
Mike and Greg.
