Mark S. Geyer
Deputy Director
NASA Johnson Space Center
BSAAE 1982
MSAAE 1984
"At Purdue I learned how to solve complex problems, push myself to expand my capabilities and work with others to achieve things we couldn't do alone. All of these things were critical to my career success."
Mark Geyer began his role as the deputy director of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston in mid-September of 2015. In his position, Geyer works with the Center Director to manage one of NASA's largest installations, with nearly 14,000 civil service and contractor employees - including those at White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, N.M. - and an annual budget of approximately $5.1 billion. Geyer helps oversee a broad range of human spaceflight activities.
Prior to being named deputy center director, Geyer has served as manager of the Orion Program since 2007. In this position, Geyer was responsible for directing the development of Orion, implementing program policies, planning and ensuring effective cost control of the program. Under Geyer's direction, Orion was successfully tested in space in 2014 for the first time, bringing NASA a step closer to sending astronauts to deep space destinations.
Geyer also served as Deputy Program Manager of the Constellation Program from 2004 to 2007. Along with the program manager, he was responsible for the day-to-day management, development, and integration of Program elements for the deep space exploration program.
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Geyer joined NASA in 1990. He began his career as a Systems Engineer in the Lunar and Mars Exploration Office.
He was quickly recognized for his leadership abilities, and in 1999 he became an increment manager for the International Space Station, responsible for integrating operations requirements between NASA, the Russian Space Agency and their contractors prior to arrival of the first International Space Station crew.
In 2000, Geyer became manager of the International Space Station Integration Office, responsible for definition of the International Space Station assembly sequence. This was the primary office for technical integration of space station elements between the international partners.
Then in 2004, Geyer began supporting the Development Program Division of the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington as the manager of Systems Engineering and Integration.
Geyer has been recognized with NASA's Exceptional Service Medal in 2000, the Space Flight Awareness Leadership Award in 2003, the Meritorious Executive Rank Award in 2006, the Distinguished Executive Rank Award in 2011, and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal in 2015. He was also a nominee for the Federal Engineer of the Year Award in 2012.
Geyer earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. He and his wife Jacqueline have three children, Samantha, Russell and Andrew.