Crystal Jones

Crystal Jones serves as the manager of the Commercial Crew Program’s Ground and Mission Operations Office (GMO) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. In this role, she is responsible for ensuring CCP providers meet human rating requirements and standards for systems at their launch and recovery sites and for crew launch, flight, and recovery operations. She also oversees budgeting, training, and operations for NASA-provided pad rescue and Department of Defense search and rescue efforts.

Experience

Jones previously served in GMO as the SpaceX Technical and Launch Site Integrator. She led the Certification of Flight Readiness (CoFR) effort for Demo-2, ensuring SpaceX ground systems, launch operations, recovery operations, flight operations, range safety, and government provided crew rescue services were ready for launch of the first crewed test flight. Once CoFR was endorsed, Jones was responsible for CCPs insight into integrated vehicle processing, including vehicle assembly, integration, test and checkout activities. She also led the GMO certification effort for SpaceX, which was the first commercial crew transportation provider for NASA.

Prior to joining CCP, Jones held various positions in the KSC Safety and Mission Assurance (S&MA) organization, including system safety engineer for the Space Shuttle Program, KSC System Safety discipline lead, KSC center risk manager, and branch chief for Institutional Safety and Quality. As branch chief for Institutional Safety and Quality, she was responsible for several center-wide S&MA programs and initiatives, such as KSC’s Mishap Program, Kennedy Federal Employee Safety and Health Program, Voluntary Protection Program, KSC Safety Culture, and Centerwide Safety Training.

Jones joined NASA in support of the Space Shuttle Program in 2008. She began her career as a system safety engineer with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) as a contractor supporting Johnson Space Center’s Safety and Mission Assurance organization.

Awards

She has received numerous honors, including On the Spot awards, Group Achievement awards, Certificate of Commendation, Silver Achievement Medal, Outstanding Leadership Medal, and the Silver Snoopy Award.

Education

Jones received her Bachelor of Science in astrophysics and Master of Science in space systems from Florida Institute of Technology. 

Personal

She resides in Viera, Florida, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Johnny, two children, Jada and Isaiah, and her granddaughter, Raegan.

Biography last updated July 2023