"Perhaps the most useful takeaway during my Purdue Engineering experience was the value of resiliency. Expectations were very high, and I struggled to meet those expectations early on. However, I learned how to adjust to those early failures, adapt, improve and keep moving forward toward achieving my professional goals. Those skills proved extremely valuable.”
As the International Space Station (ISS) Operations Manager for the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) at NASA Headquarters (HQ) in Washington, D.C., Kevin Metrocavage is responsible for maintaining overall situational awareness of the planning and execution of ISS complex operations for HEOMD.
Metrocavage manages the NASA Headquarters Space Operations Center (HQ-SOC), a facility that enables monitoring of human spaceflight operations, and provides input and status to NASA leadership as well as external agencies. Additionally, Metrocavage will integrate operations support from the HQ-SOC for upcoming Artemis missions as part of NASA’s return to the moon.
Previously, Metrocavage worked in Mission Control at NASA Johnson Space Center where he served as a Flight Controller, Instructor, and Manager for the ISS Motion Control Systems group. Metrocavage supported 18 ISS Assembly Missions and over 60 ISS Expeditions from Houston, Washington D.C. and internationally in Moscow, Russia. NASA has recognized Metrocavage with multiple individual and team awards, most notably the NASA Spaceflight Awareness Award, one of the highest awards presented to NASA and industry personnel.
Metrocavage earned his bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University. He served on the University Alumni Board of Directors and is currently Past-President of the Engineering Alumni Board of Directors.