Cheryl C. Hurst
Deputy Director
External Relations
Cheryl C. Hurst is the deputy director of External Relations for NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Fla., a position she assumed in April 2007.
In this role, she supports the director in leading a NASA-contractor team in disseminating information about NASA's multi-faceted space program through a variety of communication vehicles to broad audiences worldwide. She also assists the director in providing policy guidance, direction and evaluation related to KSC's public affairs programs, government relations, education, customer analysis, public outreach, media services, guest operations and protocol.
In addition, she supports the director with responsibilities for the KSC Visitor Center concession agreement and oversight of the KSC History Program. She oversees the center's Speakers Bureau, traveling exhibits, internal communications, freedom of information requests, and publicly accessed Internet Web sites and programs.
Prior to this assignment, Hurst was the deputy director of Procurement at KSC, supporting the director in the management of a more than 100-person organization responsible for acquisition and administration of all supplies and services in support of the KSC mission. In this role, Hurst also served KSC and the agency on many strategic planning, study and implementation teams.
Hurst's career in federal service began in 1983 with the U. S. Air Force Contracting Office at San Vito dei Normanni Air Station, Italy. In 1986, she transferred with her active-duty Air Force husband to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and held positions in acquisition with the Military Airlift Command and Air Force Communications Command. Since joining NASA in 1992, Hurst has held numerous contracting officer positions including the KSC administrative contracting officer for the Space Flight Operations Contract, NASA's largest consolidated hybrid service contract, as part of her duties after assuming the role of chief of the Mission Support Office in the KSC Procurement Office in 1999.
Hurst earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Thomas Edison State College in 1989. She attained the highest federal-level professional acquisition workforce certification status with NASA in 1998.
Hurst has been honored with a Silver Snoopy and was a Space Flight Honoree for NASA's 40th anniversary. She is also the recipient of the NASA Exceptional Leadership Medal and a Superior Accomplishment Award. She has received certificates of appreciation and commendation from Air Force commanders and KSC center directors, as well as many performance and group achievement awards.
Hurst resides in Titusville, Fla., with her husband Bob and their two children.
May 2007
Biographies - Current Employees