
Teresa L. Kinney
Chief Engineer, Deep Space Logistics, Gateway Program
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Teresa Kinney is the chief engineer for NASA’s Gateway Deep Space Logistics (DSL) Project office at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
As the technical authority, she is responsible for the technical evaluations and recommendations to the DSL management and the Gateway Program, ensuring safe and reliable delivery of needed equipment, commodities, and payloads to this lunar-orbiting station. Kinney also is the NASA Engineering and Safety Center Loads and Dynamics deputy technical fellow for manned programs, supporting through peer reviews and special tasks for the Artemis campaign, Gateway, Commercial Crew, Human Landing System, and International Space Station programs.
Experience
Prior to being selected as the DSL chief engineer in 2023, Kinney was the acting chief engineer for DSL for two years, and Integrated Performance lead engineer on the Commercial Crew Program for more than 10 years. In her lead engineer role, Kinney was responsible for leading evaluations of integrated vehicle flight analyses, testing, certification, and making recommendations to the chief engineer. She also led the resolution of technical issues related to rocket and spacecraft systems, including during abort and landing phases of flight.
Kinney began her career as a NASA contractor in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1984, supporting the agency’s Space Shuttle solid rocket booster, Spacelab, and International Space Station programs. She worked briefly on a Federal Aviation Authority engine certification program and returned to support the Columbia Return to Flight Group.
Kinney moved to Florida in 2005 and worked as a dynamicist for NASA’s Launch Services Program. She became an assistant chief engineer for the agency’s Ares I-X Ground Systems and supported NASA’s Space Transportation System chief engineer in resolving technical hardware and analysis issues.
Education
Kinney received a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University in Alabama in Huntsville and a Master of Science in industrial engineering from the University of Central Florida in Orlando.
Awards
Kinney is the recipient of the astronauts’ Silver Snoopy and the Space Flight Awareness STS-129 Honoree Award.
Kinney is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and has received an AIAA Distinguished Service Award.
Personal
Kinney is married to Jim Kinney, a retired engineer from the Launch Services Program at NASA Kennedy, and they have two children. Kinney and her husband live in Merritt Island, Florida.
In her free time, she enjoys outreach and mentoring, projects around the house, traveling, spending time with family, and watching hockey.
Biography created October 2024