NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Nicholas Chrissotimos
STEREO Project Manager
Goddard Space Flight Center




Nicholas Chrissotimos has 24 years of project/program management experience at the Goddard Space Flight Center. He is currently the deputy program manager for the Sun Earth Connection programs. In addition, he is the project manager for the STEREO mission.

Chrissotimos joined GSFC full-time in 1974 after receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Pratt Institute. He also has a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland. He first developed ground systems hardware for the NASA Space Tracking and Data Network stations, then designed and developed spaceflight hardware while supporting flight projects including LANDSAT, SARSAT, SEASAT, and the Cosmic Background Explorer.

He served on the Tracking and Data Relay System (TDRS) project for eight years as payload manager, spacecraft manager and assistant project manager leading to the successful development and launches of TDRS 3-7. He later served as the TDRS H, I, J Source Evaluation Board chairman and as the deputy project manager for the EOS Chemistry and Special Flights project.

As the Earth Systems Science Pathfinder (ESSP) project manager, he led the definition and development of the program. As the Earth Explorers program manager, he managed the development, launch and operations of ESSP and explorer missions: QuickScat, GRACE, SORCE, QuikTOMS, CALIPSO and CloudSat.

Chrissotimos is a recipient of the NASA Medal for Outstanding Leadership and Goddard's Exceptional Achievement Award.