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Creation Date
2019
Biography
Norman Wayne Hale, Jr. is currently the Director of Human Spaceflight, Special Aerospace Services, LLP, of Boulder, Colorado since 2010. In that capacity he provides services in technical consulting, management coaching, technical analysis, safety processes, technical seminars, and advising on organizational culture change. This has also included service on mishap investigations including management decision making and organizational culture. Clientele includes aerospace, energy sector, and other high reliability organizations concerned with safety, management, culture change, and operations in high risk environments.
Academic
Earned Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rice University, May 1976 and Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, August 1978.
NASA Mission Control experience
Wayne’s 32 years of NASA service included every aspect of US human spaceflight. As a junior flight controller, he was assigned the Propulsion Systems section of JSC’s Flight Control Directorate prior to the first shuttle flight. In addition to developing procedures and flight rules, he served during real time operations for 15 early shuttle flight as a Propulsion Systems officer in Mission Control. During this time, he served on the team to prototype the new Mission Control, moving from large mainframe computer driven to distributed workstation architecture where the users were responsible for discipline applications, displays and controls.
After serving as a first line supervisor of flight controllers, Wayne was chosen to be a Space Shuttle Flight Director. He served in the Flight Director’s office for over 15 years with 40 space shuttle flight assignments, a record number for any NASA Flight Director. As the senior NASA Space Shuttle Flight Director, Wayne specialized in the ascent and entry phases of flight but also served as Lead Flight Director in overall charge for three separate flights.
NASA Senior Management
Following the Columbia Space Shuttle Accident in February 2003, Wayne was assigned as Deputy Program Manager for the Space Shuttle Program with the emphasis to return the space shuttle to safe flight as soon as practical. Wayne was assigned the task of changing the management culture of the US human space flight program to one more focused on safety and mission success. After serving as Deputy for just over two years, Wayne was promoted to Program Manager and focused on flying out the space shuttle program safely, within budget, and on schedule. As such, he was responsible for all aspects of the United States premier human space flight program with annual budgets exceeding $5 billion per year.
In 2008, Wayne was promoted to Deputy Associate Administrator for Strategic Partnerships in the Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. In that position, he worked domestically and internationally with current and potential partners, and provided critical support to the President’s Blue Ribbon commission on the future of space exploration, the “Augustine” Commission. Following that report Wayne developed the management plans and philosophy for NASA to encourage the development of a commercial human space launch industry to low earth orbit which became the Commercial Crew Program Office.
Significant Activities post Government service:
Wayne Hale serves as a Member at Large on the NASA Advisory Council (a FACA organization) providing advice to the NASA Administrator and senior US leadership on space policy.
Wayne Hale served on the FAA COMSTAC (Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Council) providing advice to the FAA Associate Administrator for Commercial Space from 2014 to 2017.
Wayne Hale served on the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine study committee on the Real Time Monitoring for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration and Production in 2014 and 2015.
Wayne Hale serves in volunteer capacities with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the NASA Alumni League (NAL), the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration (CDSE) and the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF).
Professional and Academic Awards and Honors:
NASA Exceptional Service Medal, 1992
Three times awarded the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, 1999, 2005, 2007
Rice University Distinguished Alumnus 2018
Rice University Outstanding Engineering Alumnus 2012
Purdue University Distinguished Engineering Alumnus, 2011
Purdue University Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Alumnus, 2009
National Space Club, Goddard Memorial Dinner, Astronautics Engineer of the Year 2007
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Current Achievement Award for 2007
Elected Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 9/2015
NASA Space Flight Assignments:
15 Space Shuttle Flights as Propulsion or Communications systems specialist from STS-1 in April 1981 through STS-61-C in January 1986.
40 Space Shuttle Flights as Flight Director from STS-28 in July 1989 to STS-113 in November 2002; 28 of those Space Shuttle Flights assigned as Ascent Flight Director, 26 flights assigned as Entry Flight Director, 3 flights assigned as Lead Flight Director
Mission Management Team Chairman for STS-114/ISS LF1 in July 2005, the return to flight mission following the loss of Columbia.
7 Space Shuttle Flights as Space Shuttle Program Manager starting with STS-121/ISS ULF1.1 in July 2006 and ending with STS-122/ISS 1E (Columbus Module) in February 2008
