NASA Taps Stephen Cash to Lead Marshall Space Flight Center

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has appointed Stephen Cash director of Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The appointment takes effect Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, according to NASA’s announcement dated Oct. 16.

Cash returns to the center where he started his NASA career in 1982. He spent 34 years at the agency in engineering and management roles connected to human spaceflight programs. NASA says he later worked in the aerospace sector, including as vice president for advanced space systems at Axient.

At Marshall, Cash managed the Space Shuttle Propulsion Office, overseeing propulsion systems used through the shuttle program’s final missions. From 2011 until retiring from NASA in 2016, he led the center’s Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate, which addressed safety, reliability and quality engineering. In 2024, he was inducted into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame for his engineering work and contributions to the U.S. space program, NASA said.

As center director, Cash will oversee more than 5,000 civil-service and contractor employees. Marshall’s work covers propulsion, space systems, scientific research and technology development. NASA identifies the center’s responsibilities in the Artemis effort as including development of the Space Launch System rocket and management of the Human Landing System Program. The agency also says Marshall supports capabilities for lunar exploration and future Mars missions, and is involved in nuclear power and propulsion development.

Isaacman described Marshall as a center with a major role in propulsion and human spaceflight, and said Cash’s engineering and management background would serve its next phase of work. He also thanked Rae Ann Meyer for leading the center during the transition and noted her continued service at NASA.

NASA Associate Administrator and Chief Engineer Amit Kshatriya emphasized the center’s workforce and engineering capabilities. He cited manufacturing, structural loads and dynamics, and propulsion as areas Marshall is strengthening, and said Cash’s leadership would support employees’ ability to develop and use technical expertise.

Cash said returning to Marshall was an honor and expressed appreciation for the center’s staff. NASA’s announcement does not detail any changes to Marshall’s programs or schedule connected to the leadership appointment.

Cash succeeds Meyer, who has served as acting director since September 2025. Meyer previously held the roles of deputy center director and associate director. After Cash takes over, she is to return to the deputy director position.

Founded in 1960, Marshall has supported U.S. space exploration across multiple generations of programs. NASA points to the center’s work on Saturn rockets used in the Apollo Moon missions as part of that history, alongside its present contributions to propulsion systems and other technologies for human spaceflight.