NASA Chief Technologist | |
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Status | Abolished |
Reports to | NASA Administrator |
Appointer | NASA Administrator |
Formation | 2010 |
First holder | Bobby Braun |
Final holder | A.C. Charania |
Abolished | March 10, 2025 |
The chief technologist was the most senior technology position at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The chief technologist had served as the principal advisor to the NASA Administrator in technology policy and programs, and as interface to the national and international engineering community. [1] The position had "communicate how NASA technologies benefit space missions and the day-to-day lives of Americans." [2] This position was eliminated in March 2025 as part of the Trump's administration reduction in force as a "cost-cutting measure". [3] [4]
The chief technologist position was created to advise the NASA Administrator on budget, strategic objectives, and current content of NASA's technology programs. The chief technologist works closely with appropriate representatives of the NASA Strategic Enterprises and the Field Centers, as well as advisory committees and the external community. The chief technologist represents the agency's technology objectives and accomplishments to other federal agencies, industry, academia, other government organizations, the international community, and the general public. "The Chief Technologist leads NASA technology transfer and technology commercialization efforts, facilitating internal creativity and innovation." He also "coordinates, tracks and integrates technology investments across the agency and works to infuse innovative discoveries into future missions." [2]
The position was created in 2010 by NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden. [5] The first three chief technologists were aerospace engineering professors whose universities (specified below) entered into an intergovernmental personnel agreement with NASA. Douglas Terrier, was the NASA Johnson Space Center chief technologist before becoming the agency chief technologist.
On November 1, 2021 the Office of the Chief Technologist and the Office of Strategic Engagements and Assessments were merged into the new Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS). Bhavya Lal was appointed to serve as OTPS's new associate administrator. The role of the NASA chief technologist was changed to one of a staff position in the newly created OTPS. Douglas Terrier was reassigned to NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston to serve in a newly created position as the associate director for vision and strategy. Lal served as acting chief technologist. [6]
On January 3, 2023 A.C.Charania started his role as the agency chief technologist. Before joining NASA, Charania served as vice president of product strategy at Reliable Robotics. He previously worked in strategy and business development for the Virgin Galactic (now Virgin Orbit) LauncherOne small satellite launch vehicle program. He also served in multiple management and technology roles at SpaceWorks Enterprises, including helping to incubate two startups, Generation Orbit and Terminal Velocity Aerospace. [7]
No. | Image | Chief Technologist | Term start | Term end | Notes |
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1 | ![]() | Bobby Braun | February 3, 2010 | September 30, 2011 | [8] [9] [5] [10] |
Acting | Joseph Parrish | October 1, 2011 | December 31, 2011 | [5] [11] [12] [13] | |
2 | Mason Peck | January 1, 2012 | 2013 | [2] [14] [15] [16] | |
3 | ![]() | Dave Miller | March 17, 2014 | 2016 | [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] |
Acting | ![]() | Dennis J. Andrucyk | 2016 | January 17, 2017 | [22] [23] [24] |
acting | ![]() | Douglas Terrier | 2017 | 2018 | [25] [26] |
4 | 2018 | October 31, 2021 | [27] [28] [6] | ||
acting | ![]() | Bhavya Lal | November 1, 2021 | January 3, 2023 | [29] [30] |
5 | ![]() | A.C. Charania | January 3, 2023 | March 10, 2025 | [31] [3] |
Position was eliminated in March 2025. | |||||
NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden named Robert D. Braun the agency's Chief Technologist, effective Wednesday, Feb. 3.
Bobby Braun, who came to the space agency two years ago through an agreement with Georgia Tech, will leave in October, NASA said... Joseph Parrish, the deputy chief technologist, will serve as acting NASA chief technologist.
On Jan. 1, 2012, Cornell University Professor Mason Peck became NASA's chief technologist.
Dr. David W. Miller began his term as the NASA chief technologist on March 17, 2014.
NASA announced Nov. 1 several changes to its leadership, primarily involving assigning existing personnel to new positions... Douglas Terrier, who had been NASA's chief technologist for five years, will move to the Johnson Space Center, where he will be associate director for vision and strategy, a new position there. Lal will serve as acting chief technologist until the agency selects a permanent successor.