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Nasa Appoints David Korth as Deputy Director for Safety and Mission Assurance
NASA has named David Korth as the new deputy director for the Safety and Mission Assurance directorate at Johnson Space Center. Korth, who has a long-standing career with NASA, most recently held the role of deputy manager for the International Space Station (ISS) Avionics and Software Office before serving as the acting deputy in the Safety and Mission Assurance department.
Expressing enthusiasm about his new position, Korth emphasized, “I’m excited to embark on my new role as deputy for Johnson’s Safety and Mission Assurance directorate. Safety has been a priority for me throughout my NASA career and is at the forefront of every decision I make.”
Korth brings over 34 years of extensive experience in NASA’s human spaceflight initiatives. Before his time with the ISS Avionics and Software Office, he served as the deputy manager in the Systems Engineering and Integration Office. During that period, he played a key role in the procurement for the agency’s Commercial Destination program, which led to the partnership with Axiom Space.
His journey at NASA began in the space station program’s operations planning group, where he contributed to the development of initial operational concepts and established system requirements for the ISS. Transitioning to a civil service role in 1998, Korth was one of the first three individuals to achieve front room certification as an operator for the ISS’s Operations Planning. He has also been recognized for his leadership, serving as the lead operations planner for Expedition 1—the inaugural crewed mission to the ISS—and has held multiple roles such as the technical assistant in the Mission Operations Directorate. His experience extends to significant contributions as a flight director, leading missions including Expeditions 21, 22, and 37, as well as overseeing various cargo and extravehicular activities (EVAs).
Willie Lyles, the director of the Safety and Mission Assurance directorate, praised Korth’s contributions: “David did an excellent job supporting Johnson’s many programs and institutional safety needs while serving as acting deputy manager. He successfully weighed in on several critical risk-based decisions with the technical authority community. David’s program and flight operations experience is unique and is an asset to this role.”
Korth’s career has been marked by numerous accolades for his technical expertise and leadership qualities. Notable awards include the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement, the Silver Snoopy award, and two Superior Achievement awards, as well as two NASA Outstanding Leadership medals and a NASA Exceptional Achievement medal.
Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, remarked on Korth’s capabilities: “David is an outstanding leader and engineer who truly understands NASA’s safety environment and protocols. His leadership will ensure the center continues its ‘safety first’ ideology. I am extremely pleased to announce his selection for this position.”
Korth holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in statistics from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, grounding his expertise in both technical and analytical fields.
Source
www.nasa.gov