NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Center Says Aloha to Deputy Director

NASA Glenn bid "aloha" to its "Big Kahuna," Deputy Director Richard S. Christiansen, who retired on June 1. During a cake and coffee reception in the Administration Building Auditorium and Foyer on May 30, and a luau at the LaCentre in Westlake on May 31, NASA employees and retirees, colleagues and friends gathered to thank Christiansen for 27 years of service to NASA.

Image right: Christiansen cuts the first piece of his retirement cake, which affectionately displayed the words "Aloha Kahuna" during the reception at Glenn.

Christiansen served as the Deputy Director since November 16, 2003, sharing responsibilities for planning, organizing and directing center activities, first with Dr. Julian Earls (Director, 2003-2006) and recently with Dr. Woodrow Whitlow Jr. (2006-present).

During his time at NASA Glenn, he led the efforts in formulating and implementing a strategy to secure a better position for the center within the agency. He was instrumental in building partnerships throughout the agency and recently with Glenn and the space flight centers, resulting in significant recognition and responsibilities for the center in space exploration systems development.

"Rich, who I convinced to leave the sunny climes of California and join the Glenn team as my deputy, became my go-to leader as Glenn and NASA were faced with the numerous challenges," said Dr. Earls, who now serves as Executive in Residence at Cleveland State University. "These challenges were especially critical for the research centers. Not only was Rich the right person at the right time, he brought a degree of enthusiasm that was contagious. The results of his competence and dedication speak for themselves. Rich's service to NASA was exemplary. I am proud to have worked with him and that he is my friend as well as former colleague."

Prior to his assignment as Deputy Director, Christiansen served as the Associate Director for Planning at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. He was responsible for overseeing the development of the center's long-range strategic management plan and creating a vision for the future of flight research.

Christiansen began his career with NASA in 1980 at Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., where he was responsible for conducting systems analysis and large-scale aerodynamic and propulsion wind tunnel tests of vertical or short take-off and landing concepts. Much of his early research has been used in development of current U.S. military aircraft.

Christiansen has held increasingly responsible positions during his NASA career. From 1997 to 1998, Christiansen served as Acting Associate Administrator of the Aeronautics and Space Transportation Technology Enterprise in Washington D.C. One notable thread has been consistent throughout these responsibilities: his involvement and dedication to making new technologies and concepts flight worthy. By his account, he has been involved with well over 40 research, experimental, demonstrator and developmental flight projects. At least 29 of them have gone on to fly.

"This has not been a normal aerospace engineer's career," Christiansen said, adding, "but then, I have never tried to be normal."

Christiansen has received numerous honors and awards including two Exceptional Performance Awards; a Superior Accomplishment Award; two Group Achievement Awards; the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal; and, since becoming a member of the Senior Executive Service, has twice earned the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive. He is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

"I have known Rich since very early in our careers and always have valued his advice and counsel over the years," said NASA Glenn Director Whitlow. "We have had the opportunity to work on many projects for the agency and have impacted NASA's directions on several fronts. At Glenn, he has been instrumental in changing the culture of the center and in helping to define a role in the area of space flight systems development while ensuring excellence in aeronautics and space research."

In his farewell message to Glenn employees, Christiansen noted that his most cherished memories are about "the many people I have known. Any success I have had has been merely a reflection of the people whom I have been surrounded by."

Christiansen called "retirement" a journey "on to my next set of adventures."

Below are some pictorial highlights of Christiansen's experiences with NASA. Click on the blue line around the photograph to view it at a larger size.

	Christiansen in his office at Ames Research Center in 1982. He worked in the Large Scale Aerodynamics Branch conducting research on VSTOL aerodynamics and VSTOL propulsion vectoring concepts.
	Christiansen welcomed Administrator Sean O'Keefe to Glenn with a hardy St. Patrick's Day greeting in 2004. Pictured, left to right, O'Keefe, Director of External Programs John Hairston, Center Director Dr. Julian Earls, Christensen and Associate Director Bob Fails.
	Christiansen hosted Mike Griffin's first official visit to Glenn as Administrator in 2005. They are pictured at a Town Hall meeting, which was followed by a tour of the center.
	Christiansen with members of the Asian Pacific Islanders Advisory Council for the Heritage Awareness event in 2005. Pictured, left to right, Larry Liou, R&D Labs Technical Branch; Christiansen; guest speaker, Lynna Lai, Channel 19 Action News; Avis Hudson, Office of Equal Opportunity Programs (OEP); Tom Vannugen; and Robert Romero, OEP.
	Deputy Associate Administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate Doug Cooke, Center Director Dr. Whitlow and Christiansen stand in front of the Glenn-fabricated Crew Exploration Vehicle service module mockup in 2005. Christiansen spearheaded the inhouse construction of the full-scale model, which helped earn work for the center.
	Center Director Dr. Woodrow Whitlow Jr., left, and Christiansen, right, brief retired Senator John Glenn on work in the Fabrication Shop during a 2006 tour.
	Christiansen helped celebrate the NASA Safety Center dedication in 2006. Pictured, left to right, are Office of Safety and Mission Assurance Chief Bryan O'Connor, Associate NASA Administrator Rex Geveden, National Safety Center Director Alan Phillips, Glenn Associate Director Vernon "Bill" Wessel, Christiansen, former OAI Director William Selbach and NASA Engineering and Safety Center Director Ralph Roe Jr.
	Many members of the Glenn (as well as NASAwide) family showed their appreciation for Christiansen's contributions to the agency. Christiansen received a standing ovation during the cake and coffee reception and roast held in the Administration Building Auditorium in May 2007.
	Engineering Directorate Director, Olga Gonzalez-Sanabria, left, and Deputy Director of the Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate, Rafael Sanabria, right, join Christiansen at the Hawaiian-themed buffet table during the luau in May 2007.
	Christiansen, accompanied by family members, left to right, Ramm Phillips (brother-in-law), Shirley Marshall-Phillips (sister) and Lian Christiansen (mother) during the luau.
	Center Director Whitlow, right, presented Christiansen with a desk-size replica of the Glenn Time Capsule during the luau in May 2007. Executive Officer, Lori Manthey, looks on in the background.

Photo credits: NASA Glenn Imaging Technology Center

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By Katherine K. Martin and Doreen B. Zudell