Kim Ess

Kim Ess is the manager of the Integrated Performance Office (IPO) in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP) at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Texas. In this role, she is responsible for NASA insight, approval and selected independent verification and validation of the commercial partner’s integrated analysis of the launch vehicle and spacecraft performance through all phases of flight and for CCP integrated software certification. Technical disciplines managed by IPO in this effort include: software; aerodynamic; aerothermal; natural environments; flight mechanics; guidance, navigation, and control; loads; and dynamic environments. 

Experience

Prior to joining CCP, Ess was a manager in the Exploration and Science Directorate, primarily working on the development of NASA’s Gateway with five industry partners.

Her NASA career began in 1987, during the agency’s Return to Flight following the Space Shuttle Challenger accident. Her first project was to modify the crew compartment and full fuselage orbiter mockups to provide crew egress from the orbiter in the case of an abort. She also designed and built hardware for use in the International Space Station mockups and in the Weightless Environment Test Facility before becoming the Space Shuttle Program (SSP) and space station subsystem manager for both tools and diagnostic equipment and flight crew restraints.       

In 2000, Ess moved to the SSP Orbiter Project Office, working flight crew equipment and government furnished equipment. She later became the project manager for a  Return to Flight project, the Orbiter Boom Sensor System, following the Columbia accident, building the team, developing the requirements, conducting design reviews, and certifying systems to modify the orbiter fleet.

In 2007, Ess moved to Langley Research Center in Virginia and was the Test and Verification lead for the Orion Launch Abort System. In 2009, she did a six-month rotation at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, working in shuttle engineering, the Launch Control Center, and logistics before returning to Johnson to join the Orion Project Office.

She then rejoined the Engineering Directorate and managed multiple projects, including the assembly of an optical telescope for the space station and development of a robotic lunar lander joint with Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama. In 2016, she was the deputy of the Exploration Mission Planning Office, overseeing the development of mission architects for going to the Moon and Mars.                                      

Awards

She is the recipient of several NASA awards, including the Silver Snoopy Award, an Exceptional Service Medal, a Silver Achievement Medal, a Spaceflight Achievement Award, and multiple Group Achievement awards. She was named a Distinguished Mechanical Engineer from the Mechanical Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni at the University of Texas and received the Judith A. Resnik Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.  

Education

Ess earned a Bachler of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas.

Personal

Ess’ hobbies include biking, hiking, and extensive gardening. She also enjoys mentoring local high school students through science fairs and physics projects, as well as college students with the Mechanical Engineering Academy at the University of Texas. She and her husband of 31 years, Bob, raised three successful and happy children: Alexandra, Samantha, and Nick.

Biography last updated June 2023