As the Flight Project Directorate's Associate Director for Exploration and Space Communications, Bob leads Code 450/Exploration and Space Communications (ESC) Projects Division…Goddard Space Flight Center’s focal point for its historic role of providing responsive, reliable and cost-effective tracking and data relay communications and navigation services to robotic and Human Space Flight missions since the Center’s inception in 1959. Bob is responsible for program-level personnel supervision… Show more As the Flight Project Directorate's Associate Director for Exploration and Space Communications, Bob leads Code 450/Exploration and Space Communications (ESC) Projects Division…Goddard Space Flight Center’s focal point for its historic role of providing responsive, reliable and cost-effective tracking and data relay communications and navigation services to robotic and Human Space Flight missions since the Center’s inception in 1959. Bob is responsible for program-level personnel supervision and project oversight in assigned areas chartered to meet the needs of spaceflight missions in the near-space region. ESC’s diverse portfolio encompasses all phases of the NASA life cycle and spans: commercialization, technology maturation/infusion, spectrum management, end-to-end communication analysis, and Search and Rescue (SAR); Near Space Network (NSN) mission services; projects including the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD), Laser-Enhanced Mission communications Navigation and Operational Services (LEMNOS), Integrated Laser Communication Relay Demonstration Low-Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal (ILLUMA-T), Laser Optical Communications Near-Earth Satellite System (LOCNESS), and the Space network Ground Segment Sustainment (SGSS); as well as, the strategic planning and tactical execution of international- and national-initiatives directly aligned to the vision and objectives of NASA, the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) and its Space Communications and Navigation Division (SCaN). Show less

As Deputy Program Manager, Bob reports to the Associate Director for Exploration and Space Communications (ESC) and is responsible for program-level personnel supervision and project oversight in assigned areas spanning communications and navigation services.

As Associate Director of Flight Projects for Project Formulation, Bob reports directly to the Director of Flight Projects. He is the primary interface for all Directorate matters relating to new business processes, proposal development, mission studies, strategic planning, and project formulation and approval activities. Bob participates with the Director and Deputy Director of the Flight Projects Directorate (FPD) in formulating and carrying out FPD policies and responsibilities, and is… Show more As Associate Director of Flight Projects for Project Formulation, Bob reports directly to the Director of Flight Projects. He is the primary interface for all Directorate matters relating to new business processes, proposal development, mission studies, strategic planning, and project formulation and approval activities. Bob participates with the Director and Deputy Director of the Flight Projects Directorate (FPD) in formulating and carrying out FPD policies and responsibilities, and is responsible for implementing specific portions of FPD general functions. He is responsible for the supervision of the Advanced Concepts and Formulation Office (ACFO), Code 401, the Rapid Spacecraft Development Office (RSDO), Code 401.1, and the Project Management Excellence & Innovation Office (PMEIO), Code 401.2. Show less

Served as the GSFC lead manager responsible for startegic planning, implementation, communication, and reporting of engineering and management tasks under the auspices of the NASA/HQ Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD), Johnson Space Center (JSC) Constellation Program, and JSC Commercial Crew & Cargo Program Office.

The Rider University Science Advisory Board is comprised of influential scientists, business leaders and senior government officials who provide a professional interface between Rider's science program and the scientific and business communities. The purpose of the Science Advisory Board is to provide advice and counsel on the continuing development of undergraduate science education at Rider University and to promote and enhance the image and stature of Rider's science program in the… Show more The Rider University Science Advisory Board is comprised of influential scientists, business leaders and senior government officials who provide a professional interface between Rider's science program and the scientific and business communities. The purpose of the Science Advisory Board is to provide advice and counsel on the continuing development of undergraduate science education at Rider University and to promote and enhance the image and stature of Rider's science program in the scientific and business communities. An advisory role intended to assist the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Education, and Science and the science faculty, the Science Advisory Board provides a unique opportunity for the University and the scientific and business communities to work cooperatively to encourage undergraduate enrollment in the sciences. Show less

The Jason-3 mission is a 4-partner international cooperative between NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Centre National d ‘Etudes Spatiales (CNES), and the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) intended to ensure continuity of ocean topography beyond TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1 and OSTM/Jason-2.As SRB chairman, NASA's Science Mission Directorate has charged Bob with leading a team of independent experts from… Show more The Jason-3 mission is a 4-partner international cooperative between NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Centre National d ‘Etudes Spatiales (CNES), and the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) intended to ensure continuity of ocean topography beyond TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1 and OSTM/Jason-2.As SRB chairman, NASA's Science Mission Directorate has charged Bob with leading a team of independent experts from NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA/Langley Research Center and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in conducting reviews to assess the adequacy of the NASA-responsible portion of the Jason-3 project design; completeness of the analyses, development work, systems engineering, verification/validation activities and programmatic plans supporting that design; and, the key decisions made by the Project through the SRB's application of specific agency evaluation and critical decision criteria. Show less

During a one year detail assignment as Program Manager, Integrated Learning and Development Program (ILDP), Bob managed the definition, validation and transition to operations of NASA's first fully-integrated technical workforce career development model; a key enabling capability for realizing the vision of returning man to the moon and then to Mars. The ILDP team completed the consolidation of two agency organizations, implemented new budget and reporting procedures, engaged agency… Show more During a one year detail assignment as Program Manager, Integrated Learning and Development Program (ILDP), Bob managed the definition, validation and transition to operations of NASA's first fully-integrated technical workforce career development model; a key enabling capability for realizing the vision of returning man to the moon and then to Mars. The ILDP team completed the consolidation of two agency organizations, implemented new budget and reporting procedures, engaged agency stakeholders and NASA Field Centers in an activity to collaboratively develop a competency-based career development framework, as well as shared interim results with external groups including the DOD/Defense Acquisition University, Department of Homeland Security, General Services Administration, and the Project Management Institute. Show less

Bob served as Chairman of the Center-level Ground Data Systems and Mission Operations Review Board. This board is chartered with the responsibility of conducting the independent review, evaluation and risk assessment of all ground system acquisitions managed by Goddard Space Flight Center.

First as Deputy Project Manager and then as acting Project Manager, Bob served in key leadership positions within the Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Project. There he managed the implementation and operation of the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS). EOSDIS is universally recognized as the largest operational civilian ground system implementation activity ever undertaken by NASA and simultaneously supports all phases of critical mission operations for… Show more First as Deputy Project Manager and then as acting Project Manager, Bob served in key leadership positions within the Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Project. There he managed the implementation and operation of the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS). EOSDIS is universally recognized as the largest operational civilian ground system implementation activity ever undertaken by NASA and simultaneously supports all phases of critical mission operations for four spacecraft, as well as science data capture, processing, archiving, and distribution to a broad international user community. A science data collection spanning in excess of 30 Earth science missions and associated programs is supported. Show less

As Landsat-7 (L-7) Ground Systems Manager Bob was responsible for the preflight definition and implementation of a global ground data system capable of acquiring 40 Terabytes of science data per year and certification of a flight operations team capable of executing pre-launch, launch and commissioning phase activities. This included managing the NASA-funded implementation activities of NASA's L-7 partner the Department of the Interior/US Geological Survey/Earth Resources Observation and… Show more As Landsat-7 (L-7) Ground Systems Manager Bob was responsible for the preflight definition and implementation of a global ground data system capable of acquiring 40 Terabytes of science data per year and certification of a flight operations team capable of executing pre-launch, launch and commissioning phase activities. This included managing the NASA-funded implementation activities of NASA's L-7 partner the Department of the Interior/US Geological Survey/Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Data Center and appointment by the NASA Associate Administrator for Earth Science to serve as agency representative to L-7 multi-agency program management team. Show less

Bob served as Data Systems Manager for the Office of Space Science GGS/Wind, Polar and ISTP/SOHO missions where he was responsible for the preflight implementation, integration and independent verification of the two global ground data systems necessary to support these three missions.

In this supervisory position Bob was responsible for managing all systems engineering support to the Mission Operations & Data Systems Directorate (MO&DSD) Systems Management Office, GSFC Code 502. This support spanned all mission phases for multiple missions including but not limited to COBE, GRO and UARS.

Bob began his aerospace career as a Science Operations Specialist on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) flight team stationed at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), Baltimore, Maryland. There he participated in the preflight integration and verification of the HST science operations systems and flight databases.