NASA’s Stennis Space Center Gets New Director

NASA has appointed John Bailey as the new director of the Stennis Space Center in Mississipi.

Bailey brings over three decades of experience to the position, having worked with the U.S. Air Force and NASA. In his previous roles at Stennis, Bailey managed critical rocket propulsion test facilities and oversaw multimillion-dollar projects, NASA said.

Bill Nelson, NASA’s administrator and a 2024 Wash100 awardee, acknowledged Bailey’s extensive experience and emphasized Stennis’ critical role in advancing space exploration technologies. He expressed confidence in Bailey’s ability to lead the center to “even greater success.”

Stennis Space Center plays a vital role in NASA’s space exploration endeavors. The center tests engines for the Space Launch System, which propelled the Artemis I mission and will be used for future Artemis missions to the moon.

In addition to its core mission, Stennis is also expanding its role as an aerospace and technology hub, with a focus on developing intelligent and autonomous systems critical for future deep space exploration.

Bailey, who was the center’s acting director since January, expressed his enthusiasm for the new role and emphasized his commitment to the center’s workforce and ongoing NASA missions.