Kirk Lougheed

Kirk Lougheed supports NASA’s deep space exploration initiative as the Cross-Program Integration Team (CPIT) Lead for the Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) Program at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He is responsible for integration of the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft ground processing at Kennedy in support of the planned Artemis missions.

This includes cross-program management of projects that will provide all hardware, software and data systems to support ground processing and launch countdown for SLS and Orion. Additionally, his role includes providing multi-use infrastructure to enable commercial and government spacecraft and launch providers development and success at Kennedy.

Experience

Prior to becoming the CPIT Team Lead, Lougheed was the senior project manager for the Constellation Program’s command, control, and communications element, which provided the essential equipment to perform ground operations from Firing Room 1 in Kennedy’s Launch Control Center. He was also responsible for program management of several joint United States Air Force and NASA initiatives to upgrade Eastern Range launch support ground equipment.

Lougheed also supported the Space Shuttle Program as the project manager for the Ground Camera Upgrade Project, which installed high-definition television camera technology for all the ground-based imagery assets in support of the post-Columbia return-to-flight launch campaign.

Lougheed has held a variety of supervisory, management and technical positions throughout his 36-year career at Kennedy. These positions included serving as hardware design engineer, System Engineering Office chief, IT Systems Branch chief, project manager, and source evaluation board chairman for large government acquisitions. He has completed year-long rotational assignments at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., to support the agency’s Deep Space Exploration initiative and at Johnson Space Center in Houston in support of the Mission Control Center.

Awards

Lougheed has been recognized for his strong leadership and technical skills as the recipient of many awards including the Outstanding Service Medal and the Exceptional Achievement Medal.

Education

Lougheed holds a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and a Master of Science in engineering management from the University of Central Florida.

Biography last updated July 2021