Bryan K. Smith

Bryan K. Smith serves as the Director of the Space Flight Systems Directorate at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field in Cleveland, Ohio.

In this position, he is responsible for managing all of Glenn's space flight and space technology development activities supporting the Agency's Space Science, Human Exploration, and Space Technology Mission Directorates through application of Glenn’s competencies in power, propulsion, communications, materials and systems.  He assumed this position on January 16, 2011.  

From 2009 to 2010, Smith served as Chief of the Systems Engineering and Analysis Division, which provides systems engineering expertise for Glenn projects.  

Smith has worked at Glenn in a variety of capacities on space vehicle, launch vehicle, and technology programs.  Since joining Glenn in 1987, he led design and test activities for the development of the International Space Station power system.  He then served as a launch vehicle mission manager where he was responsible for the integration, procurement, and upgrades of medium class launch vehicles.  After completing a 2-year program executive assignment at NASA's Headquarters, Smith returned to Glenn to lead the Project Management Branch of the Space Transportation Office.  He then became chief of Glenn's Nuclear Technology and Demonstration Project Office, leading the development of power and propulsion systems for interplanetary spacecraft.  He later served as chief of Glenn's Crew Exploration Vehicle Project Office, supporting NASA's Space Exploration Programs and Chief Engineer for the Agency level NASA Engineering and Safety Center. He began his career at Rockwell International as a manufacturing systems engineer and production supervisor working on military aircraft.

Smith earned his bachelor's degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, an M.S. in Industrial Engineering from Cleveland State University, and an M.S. in Engineering and Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Smith is the recipient of a NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal.