Head of NASA's Space Tech Mission Directorate to Retire

NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate’s associate administrator James Reuter will retire from NASA at the end of June, according to an agency announcement on Tuesday.

After 40 years of service, Reuter will retire on Friday, June 30. He has led NASA’s STMD since 2018 and served in other roles in the directorate from 2015-2017. Before that, he held leadership roles across NASA’s human spaceflight programs and at Marshall Space Flight Center. 

Reuter began his NASA career at Marshall Space Flight Center as an aerospace engineer, but he has worked throughout the agency on projects like the International Space Station, Constellation and Space Shuttle programs. 

He has received several awards from NASA, including the 2019 Presidential Rank Award. 

“Under Jim’s leadership, STMD expanded its excellent work developing cross-cutting technologies that support NASA’s current and future missions for the benefit of all, demonstrating technologies that provide more efficient ways of sending data, improved propulsion, next-generation landing capabilities, and more,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said. “During Jim’s tenure, he created new innovative partnerships with industry and other government agencies to accelerate NASA’s technology work, with a special focus on innovating for the lunar surface. Jim also established new initiatives to foster talent within academia and the agency’s early-career workforce, all while increasing investment in technology development across the agency.” 

NASA will perform an open national search to fill the position.