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NASA News National
Aeronautics and Space
Administration John F. Kennedy
Space Center Kennedy
Space Center, Florida 32899 AC
321 867-2468 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Glenn Mahone/Bob Jacobs Headquarters, Washington June
26, 2003 (Phone: 202/358-1898/1600) Bruce Buckingham Kennedy Space Center, Florida (Phone: 321/867-2468) RELEASE: 03-217 JAMES W. KENNEDY
NAMED DIRECTOR, NASA KENNEDY SPACE CENTER
William F. Readdy, Associate
Administrator for Space Flight at NASA Headquarters in Washington, today named
James W. Kennedy as the new Director of the agency's Kennedy Space Center (KSC)
in Florida. Kennedy has served as KSC's Deputy Director since November 2002. He
will succeed General Roy Bridges, who was appointed to lead NASA's Langley
Research Center, Hampton, Va., June 13. "Along with his impeccable
credentials, Jim brings stability to KSC at a time when we need it,"
Readdy said making the announcement. "As we prepare to implement the
findings of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, Jim's knowledge of the
Space Shuttle and his leadership abilities are essential in making our 'Return
to Flight' effort a success," he said. Prior to his assignment to KSC in
2002, Kennedy was deputy director of NASA's George C. Marshall Space Flight
Center in Huntsville, Ala. Kennedy also served as project manager for major initiatives, such as the X-34 and the DC-XA, and he led the One NASA effort to help make the agency more effective and efficient by encouraging teamwork across all field centers. In early 1996, he was the manager for Marshall's Space Shuttle Projects Resident Office at KSC. Kennedy returned to Marshall when he received a Senior Executive Service appointment in September 1996 and was named manager of the Solid Rocket Booster Project. In 1998, he was selected as the
Deputy Director of Science and Engineering, where he was responsible for
establishing and maintaining a nationally recognized research and development
capability in space research and technology. One year later, he became the
Director of Engineering. -more- -2- "Jim is the right person we
need at the helm of the Kennedy Space Center, as we prepare to return to safe
flight," added NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe. "He's a distinguished
engineer and a devoted public servant. I know his colleagues at KSC will give
Jim their full support, and I am confident, under his guidance, the center will
meet and exceed all the objectives facing us in the coming months,"
O'Keefe said. Kennedy first joined NASA in 1968 in the Aerospace Engineering Cooperative Education program at KSC. He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Auburn University, Ala., in 1972. After being called to active duty in the U.S. Air Force, he earned his master's degree in business administration from Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, in 1977. Kennedy has received numerous
awards during his NASA career, including Marshall's Leadership Award, NASA's
Silver Snoopy Award, a Distinguished Service Medal and a Meritorious Rank
Award. He also has received a Group Achievement Award and several Special
Service and Performance Awards. In 2003, Kennedy received the National Space
Club's Astronautics Engineer of the Year Award. For information about NASA and KSC
on the Internet, visit: http://www.nasa.gov and -end- |
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