Washington: The US space agency NASA has named Kirk Shireman as the new manager of its International Space Station (ISS) Program, based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Shireman has served as deputy director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston since 2013.
“Kirk brings considerable space station experience to this new leadership role. He will manage the overall development, integration and operation of the program,” said William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate in Washington.
“As program manager, Kirk will work directly with international partners to ensure safe and reliable operation of the orbiting laboratory, and foster continued scientific research that benefits humanity and helps prepare the agency for its journey to Mars,” he added.
According to NASA, Shireman served as deputy ISS program manager from 2006 to 2013, just prior to his role as deputy center director. He also served as the chair of the ISS Mission Management Team after managing several of its subsystem offices, and managed multiple offices for NASA’s Space Shuttle Program.
Shireman earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Texas A&M University in College Station and began his career with NASA in 1985.
Shireman succeeds Michael Suffredini, who is the agency to take a position in private industry.
“During Mike’s tenure, the international project successfully completed construction and transitioned into a fully functional microgravity laboratory,” Gerstenmaier said. “Under his leadership, the station opened avenues for a new commercial marketplace in space and established a platform for groundbreaking research.”
Suffredini joined NASA in January 1989. He has a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
(Source: NASA)
