NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Dr. Richard J. Gilbrech
Associate Director
John C. Stennis Space Center

Dr. Richard J. Gilbrech serves as associate director of NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Miss. He is responsible, with the center director and deputy director, for coordinating all of NASA’s rocket propulsion testing capabilities and Stennis’ roles in NASA’s applied science programs, as well as managing Stennis.

Prior to assuming his current position, Dr. Gilbrech served as NASA’s Associate Administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, leading the development of new spacecraft that will return astronauts to the moon and possibly beyond.

Dr. Gilbrech began his NASA career in 1991 at Stennis in the area of propulsion test technology. In 1995, he became Stennis National Aerospace Plane project manager, responsible for construction, activation and operation of a facility to test actively-cooled structures. Later, he was named the X-33 project manager, responsible for converting Stennis’ A-1 test stand from space shuttle main engine testing to linear aerospike turbopump single and dual engine testing. From 1998 to 2000, he served as chief of the Propulsion Test Engineering Division at Stennis.

Dr. Gilbrech accepted a six-month detail at the Johnson Space Center in Houston in late 2000 where he served as technical assistant to the space shuttle program manager. He then returned to Stennis as deputy director of propulsion testing. In 2003, Dr. Gilbrech was named manager of the Propulsion Integration Office, responsible for managing NASA’s rocket propulsion test facilities.

In late 2003, Dr. Gilbrech relocated to Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., to serve as a principal engineer in the NASA Engineering and Safety Center. He later served as deputy of the NASA Engineering and Safety Center at Langley and as deputy director of the center. In January 2006, Dr. Gilbrech was named director of Stennis Space Center, serving in that role until joining NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate in August 2007.

Dr. Gilbrech is a graduate of Mississippi State University and the California Institute of Technology. The recipient of numerous awards, he has received a Presidential Rank Award and NASA’s prestigious Outstanding Leadership and Exceptional Achievement Medals. He and his wife, Shelly, have two sons, Ryan and Brandon.