{"id":61948,"date":"2021-09-21T13:01:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-21T17:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-474078"},"modified":"2024-01-17T11:29:40","modified_gmt":"2024-01-17T16:29:40","slug":"james-free-2","status":"publish","type":"people","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/james-free-2\/","title":{"rendered":"James Free"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-bio-intro maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-bio-intro\">\n\t<div class=\"hds-bio-intro-container grid-row grid-container grid-container-block padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-4 desktop:grid-col-3\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-bio-thumbnail width-10 tablet:width-card desktop:width-card-lg\">\n\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210920_3jk8384_jim_free.jpg?w=640\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large\" alt=\"James Free, Associate Administrator of NASA\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 47% 7%; object-position: 47% 7%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210920_3jk8384_jim_free.jpg 2282w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210920_3jk8384_jim_free.jpg?resize=240,300 240w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210920_3jk8384_jim_free.jpg?resize=768,960 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210920_3jk8384_jim_free.jpg?resize=819,1024 819w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210920_3jk8384_jim_free.jpg?resize=1229,1536 1229w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210920_3jk8384_jim_free.jpg?resize=1639,2048 1639w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210920_3jk8384_jim_free.jpg?resize=320,400 320w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210920_3jk8384_jim_free.jpg?resize=480,600 480w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210920_3jk8384_jim_free.jpg?resize=720,900 720w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210920_3jk8384_jim_free.jpg?resize=960,1200 960w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210920_3jk8384_jim_free.jpg?resize=1600,2000 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-7 desktop:grid-col-9 grid-row margin-0 padding-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1 desktop:margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"display-60 display-block width-full\">James Free<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-lg padding-0 margin-0 color-carbon-60\">Associate Administrator<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4\">\n\t\t\t<ul class=\"social-icons social-icons-monochrome\"><li class=\"social-icon social-icon-twitter social-icon-x\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JimFree\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" on X.\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"1200\" height=\"1227\" viewBox=\"0 0 1200 1227\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M714.163 519.284L1160.89 0H1055.03L667.137 450.887L357.328 0H0L468.492 681.821L0 1226.37H105.866L515.491 750.218L842.672 1226.37H1200L714.137 519.284H714.163ZM569.165 687.828L521.697 619.934L144.011 79.6944H306.615L611.412 515.685L658.88 583.579L1055.08 1150.3H892.476L569.165 687.854V687.828Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Jim Free is NASA’s associate administrator, its third highest-ranking executive and highest-ranking civil servant. He is the senior advisor to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. In his role, Free leads the agency’s 10 center directors as well as the mission directorate associate administrators at NASA Headquarters in Washington. He acts as the agency’s chief operating officer for more than 18,000 employees and an annual budget of more than $25 billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Previously, Free was associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. In that role, Free was responsible for the development of NASA\u2019s Moon to Mars architecture, defining and managing the systems development for NASA\u2019s Artemis missions and planning for NASA\u2019s integrated deep space exploration approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prior to his selection as head of Exploration Systems Development, Free spent several years in various private sector roles after he left NASA in 2017. In his previous role at NASA, he served as the agency\u2019s deputy associate administrator for technical in the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prior to joining NASA Headquarters, he worked his way up to center director at NASA\u2019s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, where he was responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the activities required to accomplish the missions assigned to the center.\u202f Free has served a variety of roles at NASA centers since beginning his career in 1990 at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A native of Northeast Ohio, Free earned his bachelor\u2019s degree in aeronautics from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and his master\u2019s degree in space systems engineering from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Free is the recipient of the Presidential Rank Award, NASA Distinguished Service Medal, NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, NASA Significant Achievement Medal, and numerous other awards.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-meet-the bg-carbon-90 maxw-full width-full padding-y-5 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-meet-the\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-x-0 minh-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-6 margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"label line-height-sm color-spacesuit-white\">OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-6 display-flex flex-align-center flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/organization\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"button-primary button-primary-sm link-external-true\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"line-height-alt-1 color-spacesuit-white-important\" >\n\t\t\t\tSee All                \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"button-primary-circle\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-left-0 hds-meet-the-container padding-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-cards hds-meet-the-slider grid-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-card padding-right-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-inner display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/nasa-administrator-bill-nelson\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"hds-meet-the-image padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202105170001\/NHQ202105170001~large.jpg?w=1536&h=1920&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Bill Nelson portrait\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 44% 13%; object-position: 44% 13%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202105170001\/NHQ202105170001~large.jpg?w=1536&h=1920&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202105170001\/NHQ202105170001~large.jpg?w=240&h=300&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 240w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202105170001\/NHQ202105170001~large.jpg?w=768&h=960&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202105170001\/NHQ202105170001~large.jpg?w=819&h=1024&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 819w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202105170001\/NHQ202105170001~large.jpg?w=1229&h=1536&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1229w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202105170001\/NHQ202105170001~large.jpg?w=320&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 320w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202105170001\/NHQ202105170001~large.jpg?w=480&h=600&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 480w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202105170001\/NHQ202105170001~large.jpg?w=720&h=900&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 720w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202105170001\/NHQ202105170001~large.jpg?w=960&h=1200&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/nasa-administrator-bill-nelson\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"display-block margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"heading-18 color-spacesuit-white link-underline-dashed-light border-carbon-30 margin-0 display-inline-block\">Bill Nelson<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"line-height-md color-carbon-40 margin-0 padding-0 p-sm\">Administrator<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meet-the-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenBillNelson\" class=\"meet-the-icon\" aria-label=\"Go to \" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-media-inner hds-custom-fit-fit\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/logo-black.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Go to \" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" width=\"26px\" height=\"26px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/logo-black.png?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/logo-black.png?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/logo-black.png?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/logo-black.png?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-card padding-right-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-inner display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/nasa-deputy-administrator-pam-melroy\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"hds-meet-the-image padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202106250001\/NHQ202106250001~large.jpg?w=1536&h=1920&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Pam Melroy portrait\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 43% 9%; object-position: 43% 9%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202106250001\/NHQ202106250001~large.jpg?w=1536&h=1920&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202106250001\/NHQ202106250001~large.jpg?w=240&h=300&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 240w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202106250001\/NHQ202106250001~large.jpg?w=768&h=960&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202106250001\/NHQ202106250001~large.jpg?w=819&h=1024&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 819w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202106250001\/NHQ202106250001~large.jpg?w=1229&h=1536&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1229w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202106250001\/NHQ202106250001~large.jpg?w=320&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 320w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202106250001\/NHQ202106250001~large.jpg?w=480&h=600&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 480w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202106250001\/NHQ202106250001~large.jpg?w=720&h=900&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 720w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202106250001\/NHQ202106250001~large.jpg?w=960&h=1200&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/nasa-deputy-administrator-pam-melroy\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"display-block margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"heading-18 color-spacesuit-white link-underline-dashed-light border-carbon-30 margin-0 display-inline-block\">Pam Melroy<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"line-height-md color-carbon-40 margin-0 padding-0 p-sm\">Deputy Administrator<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meet-the-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Astro_Pam\" class=\"meet-the-icon\" aria-label=\"Go to \" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-media-inner hds-custom-fit-fit\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/logo-black.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Go to \" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" width=\"26px\" height=\"26px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/logo-black.png?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/logo-black.png?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/logo-black.png?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/logo-black.png?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-card padding-right-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-inner display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/james-free-2\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"hds-meet-the-image padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/jim-free.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 46% 1%; object-position: 46% 1%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/jim-free.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/jim-free.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/jim-free.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/jim-free.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/james-free-2\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"display-block margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"heading-18 color-spacesuit-white link-underline-dashed-light border-carbon-30 margin-0 display-inline-block\">James Free<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"line-height-md color-carbon-40 margin-0 padding-0 p-sm\">Associate Administrator<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meet-the-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JimFree\" class=\"meet-the-icon\" aria-label=\"Go to \" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-media-inner hds-custom-fit-fit\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/logo-black.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Go to \" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" width=\"26px\" height=\"26px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/logo-black.png?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/logo-black.png?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/logo-black.png?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/logo-black.png?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-card padding-right-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-inner display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/senior-advisor-susie-perez-quinn\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"hds-meet-the-image padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/nhq202106170004_0.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Susie Quinn Portrait, Thursday, June 17, 2021, NASA Headquarters Mary W. Jackson Building in Washington.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 47% 15%; object-position: 47% 15%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/nhq202106170004_0.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/nhq202106170004_0.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/nhq202106170004_0.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/nhq202106170004_0.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/senior-advisor-susie-perez-quinn\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"display-block margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"heading-18 color-spacesuit-white link-underline-dashed-light border-carbon-30 margin-0 display-inline-block\">Susie Perez Quinn<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"line-height-md color-carbon-40 margin-0 padding-0 p-sm\">Senior Advisor<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meet-the-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-card padding-right-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-inner display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/nasa-deputy-associate-administrator-casey-swails\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"hds-meet-the-image padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/20210419-_1ag5706_cropped_0.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Casey Swails, NASA's deputy associate administrator for business operations, poses for a portrait, April 19, 2021 at Kennedy Space Center Headquarters in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photo Credit: (NASA\/Aubrey Gemignani)\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 66% 14%; object-position: 66% 14%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/20210419-_1ag5706_cropped_0.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/20210419-_1ag5706_cropped_0.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/20210419-_1ag5706_cropped_0.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/20210419-_1ag5706_cropped_0.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/nasa-deputy-associate-administrator-casey-swails\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"display-block margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"heading-18 color-spacesuit-white link-underline-dashed-light border-carbon-30 margin-0 display-inline-block\">Casey Swails<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"line-height-md color-carbon-40 margin-0 padding-0 p-sm\">Deputy Associate Administrator<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meet-the-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-card padding-right-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-inner display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/nasa-chief-of-staff-bale-dalton\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"hds-meet-the-image padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/nhq2021061700011.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Bale Dalton\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 17%; object-position: 50% 17%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/nhq2021061700011.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/nhq2021061700011.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/nhq2021061700011.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/nhq2021061700011.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/nasa-chief-of-staff-bale-dalton\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"display-block margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"heading-18 color-spacesuit-white link-underline-dashed-light border-carbon-30 margin-0 display-inline-block\">Bale Dalton<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"line-height-md color-carbon-40 margin-0 padding-0 p-sm\">Chief of Staff<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meet-the-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-card padding-right-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-inner display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/nasa-associate-administrator-for-space-security-interests-thomas-e-cremins\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"hds-meet-the-image padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/20150120_3jk1743.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Tom Cremins, Associate Administrator for Space Security Interests\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 12% 11%; object-position: 12% 11%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/20150120_3jk1743.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/20150120_3jk1743.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/20150120_3jk1743.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/20150120_3jk1743.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-meet-the-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/nasa-associate-administrator-for-space-security-interests-thomas-e-cremins\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"display-block margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"heading-18 color-spacesuit-white link-underline-dashed-light border-carbon-30 margin-0 display-inline-block\">Thomas E. Cremins<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"line-height-md color-carbon-40 margin-0 padding-0 p-sm\">Associate Administrator for Space Security Interests<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"meet-the-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-carousel-nav hds-carousel-nav-next display-flex margin-right-auto margin-left-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"hds-carousel-nav-arrow hds-carousel-arrow-next margin-left-0 margin-right-0\" aria-label=\"Next Person\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"9px\" height=\"9px\" viewBox=\"0 0 9 9\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path class=\"st0\" d=\"M5.5,4.5L1.8,8.1L2.7,9l4.5-4.5L2.7,0L1.8,0.9L5.5,4.5z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jim Free is NASA’s associate administrator, its third highest-ranking executive and highest-ranking civil servant. He is the senior advisor to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. In his role, Free leads the agency’s 10 center directors as well as the mission directorate associate administrators at NASA Headquarters in Washington. He acts as [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":62349,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"91","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_people_facebook_url":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_people_twitter_url":"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JimFree","nasa_hds_core_meta_people_instagram_url":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_people_linkedin_url":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_people_title":"Associate Administrator"},"categories":[2656,2876,2883,2668],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[],"coauthors":[8648],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","headline":"James Free","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/james-free-2\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/james-free-2\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210920_3jk8384_jim_free.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210920_3jk8384_jim_free.jpg"},"articleSection":"Humans in Space","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Erin Mahoney"}],"creator":["Erin Mahoney"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["People of NASA","Humans in Space","Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate","Leadership"],"dateCreated":"2021-09-21T17:01:00Z","datePublished":"2021-09-21T17:01:00Z","dateModified":"2024-01-17T16:29:40Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"James Free\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/james-free-2\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"index\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210920_3jk8384_jim_free.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2021-09-21T17:01:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Humans in Space\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"People of NASA,Humans in Space,Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate,Leadership\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Erin Mahoney\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":2,"featured_image":{"id":62349,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210920_3jk8384_jim_free.jpg","title":"Jim Free Portrait","alt":"James Free, Associate Administrator for Exploration Space Development","caption":"Jim Free poses for a portrait after being sworn in as the first associate administrator of the new Exploration Space Development Mission Directorate, Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. NASA is working to establish ESDMD to focus on planning and developing future space systems while a new Space Operations Mission Directorate will focus on operations. Both areas will support NASA\u2019s Moon to Mars exploration approach. Photo Credit: NASA\/Joel Kowsky)"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/people\/61948"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/people"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/people"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/91"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/people\/61948\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":595076,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/people\/61948\/revisions\/595076"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/62349"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61948"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61948"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=61948"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=61948"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=61948"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}