NASA announced on Thursday that Joel Montalbano will serve as the acting associate administrator for the Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD) at NASA Headquarters in Washington, and Dana Hutcherson will serve as the acting program manager of the Commercial Crew Program. These appointments follow Kenneth Bowersox's retirement, effective March 6.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated that Montalbano and Hutcherson are well-qualified to serve in these acting roles and that their experience and commitment would support NASA's mission, the President's National Space Policy, American leadership in low Earth orbit, and the development of capabilities for space exploration.
Leadership Roles and Responsibilities
Montalbano's key priorities will include establishing a low Earth orbit economy before the International Space Station's retirement and maintaining America's superiority in space. SOMD's programs encompass the Commercial Crew Program, Commercial Low Earth Orbit Program, Human Research Program, International Space Station Program, Launch Services Program, Rocket Propulsion Test Program, Space Communications and Navigation Program, Space Sustainability, and Human Spaceflight Capabilities.
Through the Commercial Crew Program, Hutcherson will facilitate spacecraft development, certification, and operations to enable the safe transportation of NASA astronauts. She will work with the American aerospace industry to develop safe, reliable, and cost-effective crew transportation systems for low-Earth orbit destinations, including the International Space Station.
Appointees' Backgrounds
Joel Montalbano
Prior to his headquarters role, Montalbano served as program manager of the International Space Station at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, where he was responsible for the overall management, development, integration, and operation of the orbiting laboratory.
His career also includes roles as deputy program manager for the International Space Station Program Office, director of NASA's Human Space Flight Program in Russia, and a NASA flight director. He began his career at Rockwell in 1988 and became a NASA civil servant the same year.
Montalbano holds a bachelor's degree in aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering from Iowa State University. He has received numerous honors, including the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and the Rank of Meritorious Executive.
Dana Hutcherson
Hutcherson previously served as deputy manager of the CCP Systems Engineering and Integration Office and deputy manager of the program's Launch Vehicle Systems Office. She also served as a NASA flow director within the Launch Vehicle Processing Directorate at Kennedy and held other roles at NASA. Before joining NASA, she started her career with United Space Alliance as an airframe engineer.
Hutcherson's honors include the Meritorious Presidential Rank Award and NASA's Space Flight Awareness Leadership Award. She holds a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a master of science in industrial engineering of engineering management from the University of Central Florida.