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David A. King serves as the Director of Shuttle Processing for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Mr. King has management and oversight responsibilities for all Space Shuttle processing and launch operations at KSC. The KSC Shuttle Processing Directorate is currently responsible for a workforce of approximately 5,400 civil service and contractor employees.
Mr. King is a 1979 graduate of Sumter High School in Sumter, South Carolina. He earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of South Carolina in 1983 and a masters of business administration from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1991.
Mr. King began his career with NASA in 1983 as a main propulsion system engineer. He later served as flow director for the Space Shuttle Discovery and then as the acting deputy director of the Installation Operations Directorate. He was appointed Deputy Director of Shuttle Processing in 1996, Launch Director in 1997, and became the Director of Shuttle Processing in 1999.
Mr. King, in July 1999, reassumed the responsibilities of the Shuttle Launch Director until this position was filled in August 2000. Mr. King served as Launch Director for six Shuttle launches, including missions to the Mir space station, the International Space Station, and the repair of the Hubble Space Telescope. As the senior member of the Shuttle launch team during the 3-day countdown, the Launch Director makes the final determination to launch. He also oversees prelaunch preparations at the Space Center, as well as KSC landing operations.
Mr. King is a recipient of the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, a two-time recipient of the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and in 2001, a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award.
In his spare time, Mr. King is active in church activities, plays golf, and enjoys spending time with his wife and children. He is the son of C. Leon and Angeline P. King of Sumter. He and his wife, the former Lisa Bashaw of Columbus, Ohio, are the parents of two daughters.
June 2002
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