Steven J. Gentz

Mr. Steven J. Gentz was selected in February 2010 as the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) Chief Engineer at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC).  Previously, Mr. Gentz served in the Principal Engineer’s Office at the Langley Research Center since the inception of the NESC in November 2004.  Prior to his current assignment with the NESC, Mr. Gentz served as the Group Leader of both the Project Engineering and Metallic Materials Groups in the Materials, Processes & Manufacturing Department at MSFC.  Mr. Gentz began his career in 1983 with MSFC as a failure analyst in the Metallurgical and Failure Analysis Branch.  Mr. Gentz served as a principal investigator or element team lead on a variety of major incident investigations that include the Challenger, Columbia, and TWA 800 Accident Investigations and a variety of other Space Shuttle, ISS, Expendable Launch Vehicle, satellite, and payload process anomalies, incidents, and mishaps.  In addition to his management and incident investigation experiences, Mr. Gentz was detailed to NASA Headquarters in 1988 as an assistant to the Director for Space in the Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology.

Mr. Gentz received a Bachelors of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Iowa State University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Metallurgy.  Mr. Gentz is the recipient of NASA’s Exceptional Service Medals in May 2008 and August 2003, and the Silver Snoopy Space Flight Awareness Award in February 1987.