NASA Names New Station Manager

Ibadan, 29 February 2024. – The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has selected Dana Weigel as the International Space Station (ISS) Program manager, based at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Weigel succeeds Joel Montalbano, who has accepted a position as deputy associate administrator for the Agency’s Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Both positions will be effective April 7.

Weigel will consequently bring 20 years of NASA experience to her new role. She currently serves as the agency’s deputy program manager for the ISS and has served in a number of key positions at NASA, including as the manager of the Space Station Vehicle Office from 2014 to 2021. She also served as deputy chief of the Flight Director Office from 2012 through 2014 and was a flight director from 2004 to 2014. In her new role, Weigel will be responsible for the overall management, development, integration, and operation of the orbital complex.

Speaking on Weigel’s new appointment, Ken Bowersox, NASA’s associate administrator for space operations, said, “Dana is an excellent choice to lead the space station program during this remarkably busy time in human spaceflight, especially aboard humanity’s home in orbit.” Bowersox also added, “With Dana continuing her contributions to the space station, Joel will bring his experience to the Space Operations directorate. NASA will continue to benefit from their human spaceflight knowledge as we maintain our unique capabilities in orbit and prepare for the future of the agency’s operations in space.”

Accepting a position as deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, Joel Montalbano will also lend his vast experience to meet the US’s goals of establishing a low Earth orbit economy and maintaining America’s leadership space.