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279:. In 1988, he first served as manager of Space Shuttle Program Integration, and then went on to serve as head of the Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle Operations Office. Following that, he became Director of Space Shuttle and Space Station Freedom Assembly Operations, and was named Chief of the Projects and Facilities Branch of the Flight Design and Dynamics Division.
338:
to award a sole-source contract. The multi-year
Commercial Crew Program had been designed to foster competition and redundancy, and Gerstenmaier believed that selecting just one company would undermine these goals. Through his efforts, he successfully convinced NASA to delay the CCtCap announcement and secure additional funding to support two competing efforts.
33:
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360:, the company's Vice President of Mission Assurance. When Koenigsmann announced he was retiring in February 2021, SpaceX said that Gerstenmaier had agreed to join the company as its Vice President of Build and Flight Reliability. In this role, Gerstenmaier has the responsibility for the safe completion of SpaceX missions.
337:
In one particularly critical decision, Gerstenmaier pushed back when Boeing had lobbied NASA for a sole-source contract, arguing that it needed the
Commercial Crew Program's full budget to develop its Starliner capsule. While Gerstenmaier considered the Starliner proposal as stronger, he was hesitant
341:
After four decades with the agency, NASA Administrator Jim
Bridenstine announced on July 10, 2019, that Gerstenmaier was being reassigned to a "special advisor" roles, which are typically considered a demotion and a way to push civil servants who can not be fired out of the agency. No reason was
424:
Gerstenmaier received the Rotary
National Award for Space Achievement's National Space Trophy in 2010, Space Transportation Leadership Award, 2011, the 2011 AIAA von Braun Award for Excellence in Space Program Management and the AIAA von Karman Lectureship in Astronautics in 2012.
141:'s Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations between 2005 and July 10, 2019. While in that role, he was described as "arguably the most influential person when it comes to US spaceflight." Prior to being Associate Administrator, Gerstenmaier served as the
421:, "For outstanding accomplishments in a career dedicated to the human exploration of space and international cooperation in space." In November 2008 he was honored again at Purdue as an Old Master in the 2008 Old Masters Program.
402:
Medal, for "Leading the efforts to continue the safe operation of the
International Space Station in the absence of the Space Shuttle, allowing continued research and preservation of its unique capabilities for the future."
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326:
Gerstenmaier was promoted to
Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations in 2005. While in that role, he was described as "arguably the most influential person when it comes to US spaceflight."
319:, overseeing the management, development, operation, and integration of the station for NASA. Gerstenmaier's time with the ISS team, came as the first crews began to occupy the station and the
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that would see NASA pivot from the traditional model of government-owned and operated spacecraft, to one where the agency would act as a customer, purchasing flights as needed.
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In
December 2000, Gerstenmaier was named Deputy Manager of the International Space Station Program. In June 2002, Gerstenmaier was promoted to Program Manager of the
275:
related to the Space
Shuttle, and was involved in the earliest phases of the International Space Station design. In 1984, he was a semi-finalist in the selection for
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In 2003, he received the
Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executives. Also that year he received the Outstanding Aerospace Engineer Award, Purdue University.
709:
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200:'s School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, hoping to get into flight via academics. During his time at Purdue, Gerstenmaier found a great interest in
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announced that
Gerstenmaier had joined the company as a consultant. He was promoted to Vice-president, Build and Flight Reliability, one year later.
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degree from Purdue, and in 1992 and 1993, he completed course work for a doctorate in dynamics and control, with a minor in propulsion at
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SpaceX hired Gerstenmaier away from NASA in February 2020 in what was originally announced as a role as a consultant to
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525:"INVESTING IN SPACESpaceX VP Hans Koenigsmann, Elon Musk's fourth hire at the space company, plans to retire"
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in 2018 for technical contributions and leadership in national and international human spaceflight programs.
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1017:"For technical contributions and leadership in national and international human spaceflight programs"
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Gerstenmaier (left) working on a space shuttle wind tunnel test at the Glenn Research Center in 1978
898:"SpaceX brings on NASA's former top spaceflight official as it prepares to launch first astronauts"
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492:"Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations: William H. Gerstenmaier"
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Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age
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740:"Source Selection Statement for Commercial Crew Transportation Capability Contract"
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149:, a position he began in June 2002. He spent a total of four decades with NASA.
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In 2007, The Federation of Galaxy Explorers honored Gerstenmaier with the 2007
924:"Twenty-Eight Federal Employees Honored for Outstanding National Achievements"
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for operations and protocols. For the first half of 1996, he was stationed in
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In 2006, the Huntsville National Space Club awarded him the Von Braun Award.
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Gerstenmaier has twice been awarded the Aviation Week and Space Technology's
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and policymaker who is the Vice President of Build and Flight Reliability at
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684:"NASA official warns private sector: We're moving on from low-Earth orbit"
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802:"William H. Gerstenmaier, Manager, International Space Station Program"
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announced that Gerstenmaier had joined the company as a consultant to
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In 1992, Gerstenmaier was given a fellowship from NASA to obtain his
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867:"William Gerstenmaier joins SpaceX, and that's a really big deal"
244:, developing air data curve information used during entry on the
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637:"William H. Gerstenmaier selected to lead NASA Space Operations"
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240:, beginning his career with NASA. Initially doing research with
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Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics alumni
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in 1973. As a teenager he followed the early space programs of
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95:
970:"Louis Friedman to Receive Space Education Inspiration Award"
452:"William H. Gerstenmaier: 2010 National Space Trophy Winner"
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technology, and chose to focus on this area for his career.
710:"Why NASA Rejected Sierra Nevada's Commercial Crew Vehicle"
398:
In 2004, Gerstenmaier was selected as a finalist for the
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Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics
230:
Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics
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Program Operations Manager, and was the liaison to the
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In 1995, Gerstenmaier returned to NASA as the Shuttle/
248:. Gerstenmaier continued his education, obtaining his
349:, the company's vice president of mission assurance.
662:"Biographies of Astronaut and Cosmonaut Candidates"
457:. Rotary National Award for Space Achievement. 2010
271:, to work at the Johnson Space Center, researching
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67:
42:
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390:Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executives
496:The National Aeronautics and Space Administration
192:. After seeing so many pilots returning from the
374:"Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Space"
236:(now called the John Glenn Research Center) in
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428:Gerstenmaier was elected as a member into the
109:Vice President, Build and Flight Reliability,
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615:College of Engineering - Purdue University
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188:, and after high school, enrolled at the
589:"Head in the Clouds, Feet on the Ground"
947:"Distinguished Engineering Alumni 2007"
922:Partnership for Public Service (2004).
838:"NASA shakes up exploration leadership"
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168:, in September 1954 and graduated from
16:American aerospace engineer (born 1954)
996:"2010 National Space Trophy Recipient"
877:from the original on February 11, 2020
635:Purdue Engineering Department (2002).
587:Purdue Engineering Department (2007).
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896:Sheetz, Michael (February 11, 2020).
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776:. BenBella Books. pp. 270–275.
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523:Sheetz, Michael (February 2, 2021).
312:, who spent six months aboard Mir.
1095:United States Naval Academy alumni
865:Berger, Eric (February 11, 2020).
14:
682:Berger, Eric (December 7, 2015).
184:. He had early dreams of being a
926:. Partnership for Public Service
708:Norris, Guy (October 11, 2014).
129:(born September 28, 1954) is an
712:. Aviation Week. Archived from
430:National Academy of Engineering
263:In 1980, Gerstenmaier moved to
968:The Planetary Society (2007).
323:was under heavy construction.
220:Gerstenmaier graduated with a
1:
554:Akron Beacon Journal (2005).
556:"East High School Induction"
386:Outstanding Leadership Medal
378:Certificates of Commendation
342:given for the reassignment.
1100:University of Toledo alumni
317:International Space Station
190:United States Naval Academy
145:Office Program Manager, at
143:International Space Station
137:. He previously served as
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945:Purdue University (2007).
419:Distinguished Alumni Award
382:Exceptional Service Medals
611:"William H. Gerstenmaier"
164:Gerstenmaier was born in
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736:Gerstenmaier, William H.
376:, as well as three NASA
232:in 1977, and joined the
226:aeronautical engineering
1085:People from Akron, Ohio
994:Marianne Dyson (2010).
332:Commercial Crew Program
277:NASA Astronaut Group 10
242:supersonic wind tunnels
127:William H. Gerstenmaier
120:Marsha Ann Gerstenmaier
25:William H. Gerstenmaier
1047:, NASA, February 2019.
807:. NASA. Archived from
738:(September 15, 2014).
411:Space Leadership Award
254:mechanical engineering
217:
974:The Planetary Society
417:honored him with the
330:He would oversee the
234:Lewis Research Center
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814:on February 24, 2009
560:Akron Beacon Journal
299:Russian Space Agency
258:University of Toledo
147:Johnson Space Center
85:University of Toledo
37:Gerstenmaier in 2007
949:. Purdue University
716:on October 13, 2014
591:. Purdue University
222:bachelor of science
94:Purdue University (
1023:. February 7, 2018
400:Service to America
352:In February 2020,
321:US Orbital Segment
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152:In February 2020,
131:aerospace engineer
53:September 28, 1954
836:(July 11, 2019).
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905:. Retrieved
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881:February 11,
879:. Retrieved
871:Ars Technica
870:
845:. Retrieved
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816:. Retrieved
809:the original
773:
770:Berger, Eric
764:
752:. Retrieved
746:
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718:. Retrieved
714:the original
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688:Ars Technica
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1070:NASA people
1051:Appearances
720:October 13,
536:February 2,
380:, two NASA
305:to support
202:spaceflight
194:Vietnam War
166:Akron, Ohio
60:Akron, Ohio
1064:Categories
842:Space News
834:Jeff Foust
754:August 24,
436:References
388:, and the
273:propulsion
186:test pilot
160:Early life
49:1954-09-28
1045:Biography
1027:March 25,
1001:April 19,
307:astronaut
284:doctorate
260:in 1981.
68:Education
875:Archived
847:July 14,
772:(2024).
693:April 9,
667:July 26,
490:(2007).
265:Houston
256:at the
174:Mercury
1055:C-SPAN
800:NASA.
780:
413:, and
364:Awards
354:SpaceX
303:Russia
208:Career
198:Purdue
182:Apollo
180:, and
178:Gemini
154:SpaceX
135:SpaceX
117:Spouse
111:SpaceX
62:, U.S.
812:(PDF)
805:(PDF)
743:(PDF)
455:(PDF)
269:Texas
228:from
106:Title
1029:2022
1003:2011
981:2007
955:2007
932:2007
909:2020
902:CNBC
883:2020
849:2019
820:2007
778:ISBN
756:2024
748:NASA
722:2014
695:2016
669:2010
648:2007
597:2007
567:2007
538:2021
530:CNBC
503:2007
488:NASA
463:2012
372:for
238:Ohio
139:NASA
43:Born
1053:on
1021:nae
295:Mir
252:in
224:in
96:PhD
1066::
1019:.
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840:.
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89:MS
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