David Sumner

David Sumner is the senior project manager with Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) at NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In this role, he leads and manages a diverse team to meet project and mission objectives for Artemis missions.

Sumner is the senior project manager on the mobile launcher 1 for the crewed Artemis II mission. In this role, Sumner leads and manages a team to provide complex ground support equipment design, construction, and testing solutions. He leads NASA civil servants and multiple support contractors to perform ground support equipment modifications for future Artemis missions, including the crewed Artemis II mission.

Experience

Prior to becoming a senior project manager, Sumner was the EGS deputy project manager and assisted in leading the procurement and design of mobile launcher 2. Prior to that, Sumner was the EGS deputy project manager in the Vehicle Assembly Building for the design and construction of High Bay 3 platforms to support stacking and integration of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft.

He also served as a project manager and engineer for the Construction of Facilities division in the Engineering Directorate for Kennedy’s infrastructure upgrades and modifications, infrastructure modifications to support launch services at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, and improved vehicle processing services at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.

Sumner joined NASA in 2007 as a co-op ground support engineer on the Space Shuttle Program at Kennedy in water systems and then transitioned to orbiter mechanisms. Prior to joining NASA, he worked with an architectural and engineering firm directly supporting Kennedy.

Education

Sumner earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering in 2005, and a Master’s in engineering management in 2013, both from the University of Central Florida. He also achieved his professional engineer board certification in Florida in 2009 and remains active.

Awards

He is the recipient of several awards, including the prestigious Silver Snoopy in 2014, and a Space Flight Awareness Award in 2011. He also received a Certificate of Commendation in 2011, as well as group achievement awards for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum award in 2008, and for the mechanical design and construction of the KSC Propellants North facility in 2011.

Personal

Sumner’s hometown is Titusville, Florida. He resides there with his wife, Megan, and four sons, Cody, Tyler, Leevi, and Joseph. They have a dog named Magnolia.

In addition to spending time with his family, Sumner enjoys hunting, fishing, gardening, golf, and coaching baseball and football.

Biography last updated March 2023