Ray Lugo Began NASA Career In 1975

Ramon "Ray" Lugo III has been named the deputy director at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, OH. Lugo succeeds Richard S. Christiansen who retired in May.

Lugo currently serves as deputy program manager of the Launch Services Program at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

"I had the opportunity to work with Ray during my tenure as deputy center director at Kennedy," said NASA Glenn Director Dr. Woodrow Whitlow Jr. "He's an outstanding engineer and a great strategic thinker with lots of energy. He will be a strong addition to the Glenn staff and the Ohio community."

Lugo expressed his excitement about the new position. "I'm looking forward to the broad challenges and the new responsibilities I'll now have at Glenn, and of course, I will very much enjoy working with Dr. Whitlow once again," said Lugo.

As the launch services deputy program manager, Lugo is responsible for program execution guaranteeing access to space for the delivery of on-time, on-orbit and on-cost launch assets satisfying governmentwide space transportation requirements.

Lugo began his NASA career at Kennedy in 1975 as a cooperative education student. His first assignment was in the Construction and Modifications Branch as an engineer responsible for construction modifications to Launch Complex 39A in preparation for the first space shuttle launch.

Since becoming a member of the Senior Executive Service in 2001, he served as the executive director of the Cape Canaveral Spaceport Management Office. Other leadership positions include director and deputy director of Expendable Launch Vehicle Services, manager of Facilities and Support Equipment Division in the Space Station Project Office, and chief of the Business Office of the Joint Performance Management Office.

Lugo has received numerous honors, including two NASA Exceptional Achievement Medals for contributions to the Galileo Mission and the Space Station Redesign and two NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals for his instrumental role in the Expendable Launch Vehicle Program Transition.

Lugo earned a Bachelor of Science in engineering in 1979 from the University of Central Florida and a master's degree in engineering management in 1982 from the Florida Institute of Technology.

FMI: www.grc.nasa.gov/