NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free has announced his retirement after a 30-year career at the space agency. Free’s last day will be February 22, and he joins thousands of other NASA employees who are also leaving their positions due to the agency’s restructuring.
Free joined NASA in 1990 and has held various leadership roles throughout his tenure. He was the chief of the Space Flight Systems Directorate at Glenn Research Center and later served as deputy center director before becoming associate administrator in January 2024.
Prior to his appointment, Free served as senior advisor to NASA Acting Administrator Janet Petro. In a statement, Petro praised Free’s commitment to the agency’s mission, saying he is “the ultimate servant leader” who combines deep technical expertise with an unwavering commitment to the agency’s mission.
Free received several awards for his service, including the Presidential Rank Award and NASA’s Distinguished Service Medal. He earned degrees in aeronautics from Miami University and space systems engineering from Delft University of Technology.
The retirement announcement comes as part of the agency’s ongoing restructuring efforts. As many as 1,000 NASA employees are expected to face dismissal in the near future due to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s direction to federal agencies to prepare for imminent layoffs.
Free expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the NASA family and contribute to the agency’s mission for the benefit of humanity. His legacy will be remembered as one of selfless service, steadfast leadership, and a belief in the power of people.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/nasa-associate-administrator-jim-free-announces-retirement-after-35-year-career-at-the-space-agency