Wayne Hale
Encyclopedia
N. Wayne Hale Jr. is a former NASA
engineer. Previously a flight director and space shuttle
program manager, Hale served as NASA's Deputy Associate Administrator for Strategic Partnerships prior to his retirement on July 31, 2010.
Born in Clovis, New Mexico
, Hale earned a Bachelor of Science
in Mechanical Engineering
from Rice University
in 1976, and a Master of Science
in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University
in 1978.
From May to November 1985, Hale was head of the Integrated Communications Section, Systems Division, Mission Operations, and head of the Propulsion Systems Section, Systems Division, Mission Operations, from November 1985 to March 1988. Between March 1988 and January 2003, Hale served as a flight director in Mission Control for forty-one Space Shuttle missions. He also served as deputy chief of the Flight Director Office for Shuttle Operations from 2001 to January 2003.
Hale then relocated to Kennedy Space Center
to become the launch integration manager of the Space Shuttle Program effective February 1, 2003. In July 2003 he became deputy manager of the program, moving up to manager in September 2005. In this capacity, he was responsible for overall management, integration, and operations of the Space Shuttle Program. His primary responsibilities include establishing and implementing program policy; directing and controlling scheduling, planning and execution of the Space Shuttle Program design, development, test, production, and operations; ensuring the integration of all elements of the program into a single operational system; ensuring effective cost control of the total program; and establishing and controlling Space Shuttle requirements and configuration.
He retired from NASA on 31 July 2010.
Hale had written a blog while at NASA. In September, 2010, he resumed posting on an external site unrelated to NASA.
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
engineer. Previously a flight director and space shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
program manager, Hale served as NASA's Deputy Associate Administrator for Strategic Partnerships prior to his retirement on July 31, 2010.
Born in Clovis, New Mexico
Clovis, New Mexico
Clovis is the county seat of Curry County, New Mexico, United States. Its population was 32,667 at the 2000 census; according to 2010 Census Bureau estimates, the population had risen to 37,775....
, Hale earned a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
from Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
in 1976, and a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
in 1978.
NASA career
Hale began his career with NASA in 1978 as a propulsion officer in the Propulsion Systems Section, Flight Control Division of Flight Operations at the Johnson Space Center.From May to November 1985, Hale was head of the Integrated Communications Section, Systems Division, Mission Operations, and head of the Propulsion Systems Section, Systems Division, Mission Operations, from November 1985 to March 1988. Between March 1988 and January 2003, Hale served as a flight director in Mission Control for forty-one Space Shuttle missions. He also served as deputy chief of the Flight Director Office for Shuttle Operations from 2001 to January 2003.
Hale then relocated to Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center
The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA installation that has been the launch site for every United States human space flight since 1968. Although such flights are currently on hiatus, KSC continues to manage and operate unmanned rocket launch facilities for America's civilian space program...
to become the launch integration manager of the Space Shuttle Program effective February 1, 2003. In July 2003 he became deputy manager of the program, moving up to manager in September 2005. In this capacity, he was responsible for overall management, integration, and operations of the Space Shuttle Program. His primary responsibilities include establishing and implementing program policy; directing and controlling scheduling, planning and execution of the Space Shuttle Program design, development, test, production, and operations; ensuring the integration of all elements of the program into a single operational system; ensuring effective cost control of the total program; and establishing and controlling Space Shuttle requirements and configuration.
He retired from NASA on 31 July 2010.
Hale had written a blog while at NASA. In September, 2010, he resumed posting on an external site unrelated to NASA.