Steve Jurczyk has been named permanent associate administrator at NASA after serving in an acting capacity for two months.
“I want to thank Steve for stepping up to the plate as acting associate administrator these past months, and look forward to his counsel going forward,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement published Tuesday.
Jurczyk previously served as associate administrator of the agency’s space technology mission directorate and director at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.
The 20-year NASA veteran started his career at the agency as a design, integration and test engineer within the electronic systems branch before he transitioned to the role of director of engineering and head of research and technology at Langley.
He is a recipient of the 2016 Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Executive and two NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals.
Melanie Saunders, who has been serving as acting deputy center director at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, has been appointed interim deputy associate administrator in a move that will take effect June 10.
Saunders will replace Krista Paquin, who is set to retire from NASA by the end of May after a 34-year career at the agency.
Saunders served for four years as associate manager of the International Space Station program.
She is former deputy manager of the ISS’ external relations office and manager for international policies related to the space station.