Jim Free, NASA’s Associate Administrator, announced his retirement, effective February 22. He served as a senior advisor to Acting Administrator Janet Petro and led NASA’s 10 center directors. Free was responsible for the agency’s operations, overseeing over 18,000 employees and managing an impressive annual budget of more than $25 billion.
Since taking on the role in January 2024, Free made significant contributions to NASA. He helped expand the Artemis Accords, which includes nearly two dozen new signatories. Under his leadership, NASA achieved its first Moon landing through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative and launched the Europa Clipper mission to study Jupiter’s moon, Europa. He also played a key role in bringing back samples from the asteroid Bennu, where scientists discovered molecules important for life.
“Jim has always put the mission and NASA’s people first,” said Petro. “His technical skills and commitment have made a lasting impact on our agency.” Free’s career at NASA is marked by genuine leadership and a belief in teamwork.
Throughout his time at NASA, Free championed important projects. He worked on new methods for returning samples from Mars ahead of future human missions. He was also supportive of the International Space Station, where crews conduct critical experiments, and he fostered public-private partnerships for the VIPER mission, which will explore the Moon’s polar regions.
Expressing gratitude, Free said, “It has been a privilege to work alongside dedicated teams tackling tough challenges and exploring beyond our world while ensuring safety for everyone.” He valued his time at NASA and the contributions he made to benefit humanity.
Free’s career spans over 30 years, with several leadership roles. Before becoming Associate Administrator, he led the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, successfully overseeing the Artemis I mission and developing systems for Moon and Mars exploration.
Starting his NASA journey in 1990, Free worked as an engineer on Tracking and Data Relay Satellites at the Goddard Space Flight Center. He later moved to the Glenn Research Center in various roles supporting the International Space Station and the Orion spacecraft. In 2009, he returned to Glenn as the chief of the Space Flight Systems Directorate, eventually becoming the center director from 2013 to 2016. He also held leadership positions at NASA Headquarters, focusing on human exploration.
A proud native of Northeast Ohio, Free earned a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics from Miami University and a master’s degree in space systems engineering from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.
Throughout his impressive career, Free received multiple accolades, including the Presidential Rank Award and NASA’s Distinguished Service Medal, reflecting his dedication and achievements in space exploration.
For more on NASA and its missions, visit NASA’s website.
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