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Friday 5 November 2010 — 16:00-16:30

Mr. Russell Romanella, NASA Kennedy Space Center

Russell R. Romanella is the associate director for Engineering and Technical Operations at NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In this position, he assures NASA's current programs such as the Space Shuttle, Space Station, Constellation, and Launch Services Programs are successful, and he assures the center is ready to support new projects such as commercial cargo and commercial crew launch.

Romanella joined

NASA in 1981 as a co-op student while attending Florida State University. After graduation, in 1984, he joined NASA as an operations engineer in the Space Shuttle Processing Directorate. Romanella became project manager for the Payload Data Management System in 1990, responsible for the design, development, management, and operations of this Information System, which supported all payload processing including space station, shuttle and expendable launch vehicle payloads.

In 1996, he moved to the Space Station Hardware Integration Office as chief of the Integration Operations Office. In 1997, he became element manager for International Space Station missions including those flying the multi-purpose logistics modules and the Canadian robotic arm. He supported the acceptance of these critical space station elements in both Italy and Canada and managed their processing activities while at Kennedy.

In September of 2003, Romanella became deputy director of the International Space Station and Spacecraft Processing Directorate, and in November 2005, he became director of the same directorate. In this position, Romanella was responsible for all ground processing of space station elements from around the world getting ready to fly in the space shuttle. While in these positions, critical elements of the International Space Station, or ISS, were successfully assembled at Kennedy, tested, and launched to orbit. These critical space station elements included the ISS connecting nodes, the U.S. Laboratory, large solar arrays, airlock, and international partner elements such as the Columbus European laboratory, the Japanese Logistics Module, and the Canadian robotic system. These elements are now operating on orbit and supporting the largest, most complex space station in human history. In addition, Romanella was responsible for preparing the Kennedy Space Center for final assembly of a future human space launch vehicle: the Orion crew exploration vehicle.

Romanella has received numerous achievement and performance awards including NASA's Exceptional Service Medal, the Center Director Award, and the Presidential Rank Award for his leadership in preparing space station elements for launch from the Kennedy Space Center.