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Creation Date
2019
Biography
Kelvin Manning serves as Associate Director, Technical, of NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In this capacity, Manning is responsible for ensuring safe and effective execution of the Center’s technical capabilities, including establishing strategies and policies to ensure the Kennedy workforce, facilities, and operations are aligned to facilitate Agency program and project goals, propelling the world’s premiere multiuser spaceport to advance America’s leadership in space.
In 1992 Manning began his career at Kennedy and has served in a number of positions within the former Shuttle Processing Directorate, including flow director for space shuttle Atlantis, chief engineer (acting) for Shuttle Upgrades, vehicle manager for space shuttle Columbia, and NASA test director. Later in the Kennedy Constellation Project Office, Manning was selected as the first division chief for NASA’s Orion spacecraft. More recently, he served on the last two NASA Astronaut Candidate Selection Boards.
Born in Fort Meade, Maryland, as an "Army brat," Manning traveled throughout the U.S. and has resided in Texas, New Jersey, Indiana, Hawaii, Illinois and Maryland. After graduating from Aberdeen High School in Aberdeen, Maryland, Manning went on to obtain his B.S. from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. In addition, Manning has an M.S. in industrial engineering from the University of Central Florida in Orlando and has completed the Senior Executive Fellows Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
As an Air Force officer, Manning served six years as a space operations analyst, stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and NORAD Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs. Following his military service and prior to joining NASA, Manning was an engineer with General Electric Aerospace, Military and Data Systems Operations, in Springfield, Virginia, and McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Company in Washington, D.C.
Manning has received numerous awards, including the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award, NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the astronauts' Silver Snoopy Award, National Black Engineer of the Year Award for Outstanding Technical Achievement in Government, NASA Public Service Award, Department of Defense Joint Service Commendation Medal, and National Eagle Scout Association Outstanding Eagle Scout Award.
