NASA Office of JPL Management and Oversight (NOJMO)
NASA is the sponsor of the federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) known as the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), located in Pasadena, California. JPL has a long-standing and unique relationship with NASA and serves as one of the agency’s premier research institutions, supporting some of the nation’s most complex and critical space exploration, science, and technology missions. As an FFRDC, JPL operates under a special contractual and governance framework designed to ensure that its work is performed in the public interest and aligned with national priorities.
The NASA Office of JPL Management and Oversight (NOJMO) is the NASA Headquarters on-site government organization responsible for overseeing JPL’s operations. NOJMO fulfills multiple essential functions, including contract management, on-site agency oversight, and the assurance of regulatory compliance across all contractor activities. This oversight is conducted in accordance with Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), specifically section 35.017, which establishes the policy framework governing FFRDCs. Through this structure, NASA ensures that JPL’s activities are consistent with federal acquisition regulations, agency policy, and statutory requirements applicable to FFRDC operations.
JPL is funded by NASA to address specific long-term technical and scientific needs that cannot be effectively met by any other single organization within the agency or by traditional government or commercial contracting mechanisms. These needs often involve highly specialized expertise, sustained institutional knowledge, and continuity of operations across decades-long programs and missions. The FFRDC model enables NASA to retain access to this depth of capability while maintaining a clear separation between government decision-making authority and contractor execution responsibilities.
As part of this special sponsor–FFRDC relationship, NASA requires that JPL be operated strictly in the public interest. This includes maintaining a high degree of objectivity and independence in its technical analyses, research activities, and programmatic recommendations. JPL must be free from organizational conflicts of interest that could compromise its ability to provide unbiased advice or perform work that supports NASA’s mission priorities. Full transparency and disclosure of JPL’s activities, finances, and operations to NASA are also essential components of this relationship, ensuring accountability and trust between the agency and the contractor operating the FFRDC.
The NOJMO director plays a central role in managing and sustaining this relationship. The director reports to NASA’s associate administrator and serves as the official responsible for managing the sponsoring agreement between NASA and the contractor that operates JPL. In this capacity, the NOJMO director provides continuous on-site oversight of contract implementation, ensuring that the terms and conditions of the agreement are executed as intended and that JPL’s work remains aligned with NASA’s strategic objectives.
In addition to contract administration, the NOJMO director and staff are responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable statutory, regulatory, and fiduciary requirements. This includes oversight of financial management practices, labor and workforce considerations, safety and mission assurance, security, export control compliance, and adherence to federal ethics and procurement standards. By maintaining an on-site presence, NOJMO is able to engage directly with JPL leadership and personnel, identify risks early, and address issues before they escalate or impact mission performance.
Through its oversight activities, NOJMO also serves as a critical interface between NASA Headquarters and JPL, facilitating communication, coordination, and alignment across organizational boundaries. This role is particularly important given the scale, complexity, and national significance of JPL’s mission portfolio. The combination of strong governance, continuous oversight, and a clearly defined sponsor–FFRDC relationship ensures that JPL remains a trusted partner in advancing NASA’s mission while operating with integrity, accountability, and a sustained focus on the public good.
Leadership
