David Allega

David Allega is a mission manager in the Mission Management and Integration Office of the Commercial Crew Program (CCP). He is based at Johnson Space Center in Houston. He moved into this position in January 2022.

In this role, Allega leads the integration of NASA activities associated with the commercial provider milestone and product reviews. He provides mission integration, safety acceptances, and certification of flight readiness information for flight test and post-certification missions to the International Space Station.

He is currently the mission manager for the SpaceX Crew-5 mission that is scheduled to launch to the space station in 2022.

Experience

Allega began his career with NASA in October 2003. Prior to that, he worked as a contractor with United Space Alliance on the Space Shuttle Program from April 1989 to October 2003. He joined CCP in 2013 as part of the Ground and Mission Operations Office. His primary responsibilities included working as the lead ground and mission operations tech integrator for Boeing at the end of the Commercial Crew Development contract and the beginning of the current Commercial Crew Transportation Capability activities. He also served as the mishap manager, developing the CCP response to NASA mishaps for the program.

Prior to working in CCP, Allega was a space shuttle mission controller in the Guidance, Navigation, and Control and Data Processing Systems areas, and also worked integration for Constellation/Orion.

Awards

Allega has received several awards, including the Silver Achievement Medal in June 2020 for his work on CCP mishap planning and a Johnson Space Center Group Achievement Award in July 2022 for work on the Axiom-1 private astronaut mission.

Education

Allega earned a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering in December 1988 from the Missouri University of Science and Technology. He earned a master’s degree in physical (space) science in May 1994 from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

Personal

Allega’s hometown is Independence, Missouri. He currently resides in Seabrook, Texas, with his wife, Melissa, and their three children, Zach, Jake, and Haley. He enjoys camping with his children and occasional fishing and golf when he has time. He also enjoys reading science fiction and historical fiction books.

Biography last updated August 2022