NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has named Stephen Cash director of the agency\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, effective Monday, Oct. 19. Cash, a veteran NASA engineer and aerospace executive, returns to lead the center where he began his career more than four decades ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarshall contributions to NASA\u2019s missions are historic and it\u2019s no question why it\u2019s the Center of Excellence for propulsion,\u201d said Isaacman. \u201cSteve Cash is a Marshall legend, has spent his career around the hardware, the people and has been in the seat before making the decisions when human spaceflight is on the line. As Marshall continues its critical role in Artemis and takes on new challenges in advanced propulsion, nuclear power, and the systems that will carry us deeper into the solar system, Steve brings the experience, technical judgment, and mission focus needed to lead the center into that next chapter. I am also grateful to Rae Ann Meyer for the leadership she has provided to Marshall during this transition and for her continued service to NASA.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLeading a NASA center requires a commitment to its people and to the technical capabilities entrusted to them,\u201d said Amit Kshatriya, NASA associate administrator and chief engineer. \u201cSteve understands that the jewel of Marshall is its workforce and that engineering excellence is sustained by giving talented people the opportunity to design, build, test, and learn through hands-on work. As Marshall continues strengthening the manufacturing, structural loads and dynamics, and propulsion capabilities that underpin NASA\u2019s exploration enterprise, Steve\u2019s leadership will help ensure the workforce has opportunities to develop and apply the expertise needed to deliver the agency\u2019s most ambitious missions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0As center director, Cash will lead one of NASA\u2019s largest field centers, overseeing a workforce of more than 5,000 civil service and contractor employees and a broad portfolio of propulsion, space systems, scientific research, and technology development activities. \u00a0Marshall plays a critical role in NASA\u2019s Artemis program, including the development of NASA\u2019s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, management of the Human Landing System Program, as well as other capabilities supporting sustained exploration of the Moon and future missions to Mars. Further, Marshall plays a key role in the advancement of nuclear power and propulsion, an area of focus that is expected to grow as NASA works towards sending the first humans to Mars. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a profound honor to be back home at the Marshall Space Flight Center,\u201d said Cash. \u201cI am humbled to stand alongside the brilliant minds here as we continue to turn the impossible into everyday history.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cash began his NASA career at Marshall in 1982 and spent 34 years with the agency, holding senior engineering and management positions supporting some of the nation\u2019s most significant human spaceflight programs.<\/p>\n
During his NASA career, Cash served as manager of Marshall\u2019s Space Shuttle Propulsion Office, overseeing critical propulsion systems supporting shuttle through its final missions. He later served as director of Marshall\u2019s Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate from 2011 until his retirement in 2016, providing leadership in safety, reliability, and quality engineering to support mission success across the center.<\/p>\n
Following his retirement from NASA, Cash continued his work in the aerospace industry, including serving as vice president for advanced space systems at Axient, supporting the development and execution of major spaceflight programs. In 2024, he was inducted into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to engineering and the nation\u2019s space program.<\/p>\n
Cash succeeds Rae Ann Meyer, who has served as Marshall\u2019s acting center director since September 2025. Meyer, who previously served as Marshall\u2019s deputy center director and associate director, has provided leadership and continuity across the center\u2019s programs and operations during her tenure as acting director. Meyer will return to her role as Deputy Center Director.<\/p>\n
Established in 1960, Marshall has played a central role in American space exploration for more than six decades, from developing the Saturn rockets that carried astronauts to the Moon during Apollo to advancing the propulsion systems, infrastructure, and technologies supporting the next era of human spaceflight.<\/p>\n
For more information about NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center, visit:<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/marshall<\/a><\/p>\n -end-<\/p>\n George Alderman \/ Cheryl Warner
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
george.a.alderman@nasa.gov<\/a> \/ cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n