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For release: 01/07/04
Release #: N04-002

Former ATK Thiokol president named NSSTC executive director

Gerald W. Smith has been named executive director of the National Space Science and Technology Center in Huntsville, Ala. Smith, a former NASA manager at the Marshall and Stennis space centers, most recently served as president of ATK Thiokol Propulsion in Brigham City, Utah. The research center is a partnership with the Marshall Center, industry and Alabama universities.

Photo: Smith (Ray Garner, The University of Alabama in Huntsville.)

Retired aerospace executiveGerald W. Smith has been named executive director of the National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC), according to Dr. Ron Greenwood, director of the Alabama Space Science and Technology Alliance.

Smith retired last summer as president of ATK Thiokol Propulsion in Brigham City , Utah , and moved back to Huntsville . He is a native of Albertville , Ala. , and worked as a manager of the solid rocket booster program at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center from 1987 to 1989.

He also served as deputy director at NASA's Stennis Space Center . This Mississippi-based center is responsible for NASA's rocket propulsion testing, and partnering with industry to develop and implement remote sensing technology. Smith also served for three years as director of research laboratories for the Georgia Technology Research Institute.

The 64-year-old aerospace engineer said he was enjoying retirement when he was contacted about the NSSTC opening. “This has been the only opening I seriously considered since retiring, but working with the researchers really made this a rare opportunity that I didn't want to pass up.”

Smith quickly numbered important opportunities he sees to expand the center's presence:

“One, I envision a closer partnership with all of Alabama's research universities in submitting joint proposals and working collaboratively on research projects to leverage the state's capabilities. Two, there are many high tech industries throughout the state that provide an opportunity to form alliances to conduct joint research in bringing new ideas and products to the market. Three, I believe we need to look more closely at the research needs of the Army at Redstone Arsenal. The research capabilities of the NSSTC and the Alabama research universities should provide an opportunity to support programs at Redstone.”

“We are delighted Gerald Smith is the new director of the National Space Science and Technology Center ,” said Dave King, Marshall Center Director. “He is a proven leader with a history of significant accomplishments. The NSSTC is a unique institution with expertise and diverse partnerships in research ranging from space sciences to weather systems right here on Earth. I'm confident that under Gerald's leadership, we will see outstanding results from the scientists and engineers dedicated to this research.”

As president of ATK Thiokol. Smith was responsible for leading the company's development and production of solid rocket motors in all vehicle payload classes for American and international space launch markets. The company is the world's largest producer of solid rocket motors, including the reusable solid rocket motor aboard NASA's space shuttle and the Titan IVB solid rocket motor upgrade.

The National Space Science and Technology Center is a research organization that conducts cutting-edge research in various scientific and engineering disciplines, such as atmospheric science, optics, biotechnology, information technology, materials science, propulsion, and space science.

The center also fosters the education of the next generation of scientists and engineers. Undergraduate and graduate students participate in the cooperative research, and experience is provided for educators.

The NSSTC is a partnership between NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and the Alabama Space Science and Technology Alliance, a consortium of Alabama 's research universities. The NSSTC is located in Huntsville , Ala. , adjacent to The University of Alabama in Huntsville .

The NSSTC is a cooperative venture of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama A & M University, Auburn University, Tuskegee University, The University of Alabama, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, and The University of South Alabama.

For more information:
News release
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NSSTC News

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