Steve Creech

Steve Creech is the acting program manager of NASA’s Human Landing System Program at the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. In this role, Creech leads the development of the integrated lunar landing systems, provided by U.S. industry, that will safely transport astronauts from lunar orbit to the Moon’s South Pole and back as part of the agency’s Artemis missions. Creech oversees the program and an agencywide team of civil servants and support contractors responsible for working with providers SpaceX and Blue Origin to develop the commercial human landing systems. The landers are a key element of NASA’s Artemis missions, which leverage the agency’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft, along with Exploration Ground Systems and advanced spacesuits, to return humans to the Moon.

Through Artemis, NASA will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars. Building on NASA’s experience in lunar exploration, these commercial lander systems pave the way for NASA’s long-term goal of sustainable missions to deep space.

Experience

Creech has more than 35 years of management and technical expertise at NASA. Beginning in 2023, Creech was the assistant deputy associate administrator for the Moon to Mars Program Office within the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate. In this role, he was responsible for the planning, overall integration, and execution of Artemis campaign missions. He also assisted in the overall management and development of Artemis architecture including the SLS rocket, Orion spacecraft, Exploration Ground Systems, Gateway, advanced spacesuits, rovers, and more. Prior to that role, he was the assistant deputy associate administrator for the Artemis Campaign Development Division from 2020 to 2023.

Creech has extensive experience in the design, development, and integration of systems for SLS. He was the element manager of the Spacecraft/Payload Integration and Evolution Office at NASA Marshall, where he oversaw the development of the in-space stage and spacecraft and payload integration hardware for the deep space rocket. He previously led business development, collaborations, and partnerships to advance payloads and capabilities as the assistant program manager for strategy and partnerships in the SLS Program Office.

Earlier in his career, Creech was an integration manager for Ares V and led the engineering cost group in the Office of Strategic Analysis and Communications at NASA Marshall. He has held leadership roles across several space transportation programs, including the Space Launch Initiative Program, the X-33 and X-34, and the Reusable Launch Vehicle projects office at Marshall.

Awards

Creech has been honored with a U.S. Office of Personnel Management 2023 Presidential Rank Award, a NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and numerous special service and group awards during his NASA career.

Education

Creech earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Mississippi State University in 1990.

Biography last updated November 2025