NASA Appoints Reid Wiseman as JPL Deputy Director

Reid Wiseman, the astronaut who commanded the historic Artemis II moon mission launched from Florida in November 2022, has been appointed as the associate vice president and deputy director at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, effective November 30, 2023. The appointment comes as all four crew members of the Artemis II mission have stepped away from spaceflight for new careers, with Wiseman taking on a leadership role at JPL. Wiseman's new position will oversee laboratory operations and 'mission execution' at the renowned center for robotic space exploration and development in Pasadena, California.

Reid Wiseman's appointment at JPL comes as all four crew members of the Artemis II mission have stepped away from spaceflight for new careers. Caltech President Ray Jayawardhana described Wiseman as having a 'pioneering spirit coupled with unbounded curiosity', suggesting that the university is seeking to capitalize on his expertise in space exploration. Wiseman's extensive experience, which includes serving as a NASA astronaut from 2006 to 2018 and commanding the Expedition 51 International Space Station mission in 2017, positions him well for this role. The fact that all four crew members have moved on suggests that JPL may be preparing to shift towards more human-led missions.

Reid Wiseman's appointment at JPL has been met with praise from Caltech President Ray Jayawardhana, who described him as having a 'pioneering spirit coupled with unbounded curiosity'. This endorsement suggests that the university is seeking to capitalize on Wiseman's expertise in space exploration. Wiseman's new role will oversee laboratory operations and 'mission execution' at JPL, a position that leverages his extensive experience in space exploration. The appointment also underscores Caltech's commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration between academia and industry.