Assistant Administrator for External Relations
Al Condes

Mr. Al Condes is the Deputy Assistant Administrator for External Relations for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Mr. Condes began his career at NASA in January 1984, in the NASA Headquarters Office of Procurement, as a Grants Specialist. In January 1985, he was assigned to the position of Contracting Officer and was responsible for performing all phases of the federal procurement cycle, specifically, conducting all major NASA foreign contract activity and assisting all NASA field centers with resolution of foreign procurement issues. In 1986, Mr. Condes also served in an administrative capacity for the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident and, among other duties, was responsible for implementation of all Commission-related NASA procurements.

In December 1987, Mr. Condes moved to NASA's International Planning and Programs Office where he was responsible for assisting in the development, coordination and implementation of NASA's international policy objectives. In 1993, during the U.S. Space Station program redesign, Mr. Condes provided direct support to the Office of Space Flight in the development of its policy regarding NASA's International Partners and served as one of NASA's primary liaisons with the U.S. Department of State and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. In January 1994, Mr. Condes was assigned as a Special Assistant to the Associate Administrator for Policy Coordination and International Relations during an intensive transitional period of NASA activities related to the initial involvement of the Government of the Russian Federation in the ISS program. In June 1994, Mr. Condes was assigned to the position of International Agreements Manager, focusing primarily on the development of appropriate legal instruments to facilitate Russian involvement in the Shuttle-Mir and ISS programs. During this period, Mr. Condes served as one of the lead negotiators and principal author of NASA's agreements with Russia , Europe, Japan , and Canada for their respective participation in the ISS program. In June 1996, Mr. Condes was assigned as Chief of Staff for the Office of External Relations with responsibility for oversight of actions spanning the full spectrum of activities conducted by the Office of External Relations. In June 1997, Mr. Condes was assigned as the Space Flight and Russia Team Leader responsible for all new and on-going international cooperation within the Human Exploration and Development of Space Enterprise, including the Space Shuttle and ISS programs and new cooperative initiatives with Russia.

In January 1999, Mr. Condes assumed the responsibility of Director for Earth Science in the Office of External Relations. In this capacity, Mr. Condes led a division responsible for providing international, interagency, and policy support for NASA's Earth Science Enterprise. Under Mr. Condes' leadership, the Division established over 290 cooperative agreements with over 60 nations in support of the Earth Science Enterprise 's mission. Mr. Condes was also instrumental in the establishment of new Earth Science-related cooperation with a number of non-traditional NASA international partners worldwide.

In August 2002, Mr. Condes moved to Director for Human Space Flight and Research in the Office of External Relations. In this capacity, he provided international and interagency policy guidance for NASA's Space Flight Enterprise, Biological and Physical Research Enterprise and the Education Enterprise, negotiating or overseeing the negotiation of foreign and domestic agreements on their behalf.

In March 2004, Mr. Condes was selected as the Deputy Assistant Administrator for External Relations. Mr. Condes is responsible for supervision and management of all aspects of the office including NASA's interaction with Executive Branch offices and agencies, international relations for each of NASA's Mission office directorates, administration of export control and international technology transfer programs, the NASA History Office, and support of NASA advisory councils and committees.

Mr. Condes is a member of the U.S. Government's Senior Executive Service and has received numerous NASA awards, including the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Senior Executive, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, three NASA Exceptional Performance Awards, two NASA Special Achievement Awards, three NASA Superior Accomplishment Awards, and has been included as a key participant in eight NASA Group Achievement Awards. In addition, Mr. Condes was awarded a scholarship by NASA through the NASA Graduate Study Program obtaining a Master of Arts in Science, Technology and Public Policy in 1994 from the Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University .

Mr. Condes has a B.A. in Government and Politics from George Mason University and an M.A. in Science, Technology, and Public Policy from George Washington University .

Mr. Condes currently resides in Vienna , Virginia with his wife Jodi and their children, Kathryn and Albert.

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