NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has named Dr. Jimmy Kenyon director of the agency’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, effective immediately. Kenyon has served as the acting director of Glenn since June.

Dr. James A. Kenyon, center director, NASA Glenn Credits: NASA

“Dr. Kenyon is an exceptional leader who will help propel Glenn and NASA forward as we revolutionize air transportation and venture farther into the cosmos than ever before,” said Administrator Bill Nelson. “With Jimmy continuing his service to NASA as center director, I know the NASA family at Glenn will continue to improve life on Earth by making our research and technology accessible for the benefit of all humanity.”

“I’m honored to be chosen to lead the more than 3,200 employees and contractors at Glenn Research Center who work each day to design, develop, and test the innovative technologies that make NASA’s space exploration, science, and aeronautics missions possible,” Kenyon said. “Glenn’s research and development efforts are crucial to the Ohio and national space economy, fueling new industries and technologies, supporting job growth, and increasing the demand for a highly skilled STEM workforce.”

Before being named Glenn’s acting director, Kenyon served as director of the Advanced Air Vehicles Program in the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. He supported the mission directorate and its leadership in a broad range of activities, including strategic and program planning, budget development, program review and evaluation, and external coordination and outreach.

Prior to joining NASA in 2019, Kenyon worked with Pratt & Whitney, where he held leadership roles in business development, program management, and engineering. Kenyon also served as a civilian with the Department of Defense, including 11 years at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio and six years in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.  

At Glenn, Kenyon will oversee a center responsible for leading the Gateway Power and Propulsion Element, supporting the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket, and conducting revolutionary aeronautics research to make sustainable commercial aviation a reality.

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