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James E. Ball
Center Development Manager
Center Planning and Development Office
Center Operations
James E. Ball is the center development manager for NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He leads Kennedy's efforts to pursue alternative source funding opportunities as well as partnerships with the commercial space industry and other non-traditional customers to optimize the use of center capabilities. He serves in the Center Planning and Development Office, Center Operations Directorate, as program manager for center development projects, including coordination with federal, state, and local stakeholder organizations.
He is responsible for working with industry and stakeholder organizations to identify and develop opportunities to expand use of center property and facilities. Since 2005, he has led efforts to develop, demonstrate and implement non-NASA use of the Shuttle Landing Facility. He has also led center efforts to demonstrate and implement leases of property under NASA's Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) authority.
Ball has led the planning and implementation of a partnership with Space Florida to develop Exploration Park, a planned commerce and technology park at Kennedy, and a collaborative effort with Florida Power and Light Company to develop a major solar power generation facility, providing clean and renewable energy to both Florida consumers and NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
Since joining NASA in 1982, Ball has served in a number of management positions related to the agency’s efforts to broaden private sector involvement in space activities. Prior to his present position, he was the chief of the Business Development Division in the External Relations Directorate. He previously helped promote NASA's commercial programs initiatives during an assignment at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and then entered the private sector to direct marketing activities for SPACEHAB, Inc. He returned to NASA at Kennedy in 1991 to lead a revitalization of Kennedy's visitor program and oversee a six-year, $100 million renovation and expansion of visitor facilities that included the privately financed Apollo/Saturn V Center.
Ball is a sixth generation Floridian and native of Miami, Fla. He is a graduate of Florida International University in Miami. He resides with his family in Titusville, where he is active in community affairs. Ball has twice received NASA's Exceptional Achievement Medal. He was awarded the 2006 Kennedy Space Center Strategic Leadership Award for his efforts to develop commercial utilization of Kennedy assets. He has also received a number of other agency awards for individual and team achievements.
June 2009
Biographies - Current Employees