Matthew Landano has been appointed the new director of
the Office of Safety and Mission Success, which oversees the
engineering and reliability of the exploration missions
developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena,
Calif.

In announcing the appointment, JPL director Dr. Charles
Elachi highlighted Landano’s lengthy experience on a variety
of space missions.

"Matt will play a vital role in the success of JPL’s
future missions to explore Earth, the solar system and
beyond," said Elachi. "He brings to this important position
an extensive and varied background in mission design,
development, management and flight operations."

Landano is currently the deputy director of the Planetary
Flight Projects Directorate and project manager of the 2001
Mars Odyssey mission. He came to JPL in 1969 as part of the
Viking Orbiter System Design/Development Team. In 1973, he
joined the Voyager Project System Design/Development Team.
>From 1978 to 1997 he held several positions with the Galileo
mission, including system design group supervisor, chief
engineer and deputy mission director responsible for day-to-
day flight operations. In 1997, Landano worked on the Cassini
mission, preparing the spacecraft for launch and early phase
flight operations. He later joined the Planetary Flight
Projects Office, where he played a significant role in
supporting many projects, including Deep Space 1, Stardust,
Deep Impact, Genesis and Galaxy Evolution Explorer.

Landano is author of the JPL Design,
Verification/Validation and Operations Principles for Flight
Systems, which sets the standard for all development projects
at JPL. He has received two NASA Outstanding Leadership
medals and a NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal. He was
awarded an Aviation Week Laurels Award in 1989.

Landano’s appointment becomes effective on March 11. He
replaces Dr. Harry Detweiler, who announced his planned
retirement late last year. Detweiler is retiring after 34
years at JPL.

Landano holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in
electrical engineering from California State University, Los
Angeles. He lives in Glendale with his wife Angie; they have
two married daughters.

JPL is a division of the California Institute of
Technology in Pasadena.