Dennis A. Kross
Director
Safety and Mission Assurance
Dennis A. Kross is the director of Safety and Mission Assurance at NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, a role he assumed in August 2005. In this capacity, he leads the nearly 250 professionals who provide an independent review and oversight to the programs at KSC that ensure mission success is accomplished and a safe workplace is achieved.
Prior to this appointment, Kross served as Space Shuttle deputy program manager at KSC since April 2004, where he was responsible for all aspects of Space Shuttle preparation, launch and return of the orbiter to KSC following flight.
Since 2000, Kross served as the director of the Space Transportation Directorate at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Ala. In 2003, he was selected to lead the efforts associated with the External Tank Return to Flight Team.
Kross began his NASA career in 1967 as a structural dynamics engineer at the Propulsion and Vehicle Engineering Laboratory at MSFC. Over the last 35 years, Kross has served in numerous roles in both the Space Shuttle and International Space Station Programs at NASA Headquarters, Johnson Space Center in Houston, and MSFC. During the past 10 years, Kross held critical positions such as manager, Engineering Systems Department; manager, International Space Station Vehicle Office; technical lead, ISS; and Level II Space Station chief engineer.
Kross is the recipient of many distinguished NASA awards, including the Meritorious Executive Award, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, Space Flight Honoree Award, Exceptional Engineering Achievement and Silver Snoopy Award.
Formerly of Detroit, Mich., Kross holds a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan and a Master's degree in engineering mechanics from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
May 2006
Biographies - Current Employees
