NASA 

Stennis

Strategic Plan 

2024 - 2028
NASA Stennis 

Strategic Plan 

2024 - 2028

Contents

2. Message from Center Director

4. Vision and Mission

6. Propulsion

8. Federal City

10. Autonomous Systems

12. Range Operations

14. Workforce Development

1
Message from 

NASA has a clear goal and plan for the future – to 

explore, innovate, and inspire; to return humans 

to the Moon, including the first woman and first 

person of color; and to prepare for missions to 

Mars. NASA 2040 is an agency initiative to ensure 

that by the year 2040, NASA is the preeminent 

institution for research, technology, and 

engineering to lead science, aeronautics, and 

space exploration for humanity. NASA Stennis 

has a clear goal and plan as well – to meet the 

challenges of a changing world; to adapt and 

evolve; and to transform the way we do business.

We are forging new partnerships, working with 

commercial aerospace companies to provide the 

services and capabilities they want and need. 

We are expanding our lines of business beyond 

propulsion testing to include autonomous 

systems and range operations. We are 

transforming our federal city model to attract new 

companies onsite and serve as an aerospace and 

technology hub. We are investing in members of 

our workforce so they are equipped for the future 

and for work that future entails. 

We are in a time of change – and change brings 

uncertainty. However, change offers possibilities 

and opportunity as well. A famous quote I like 

states, “The best way to predict the future is to 

create it.” We are embracing the possibilities 

and seizing the opportunity before us. As a team 

and as a family, we are moving, going forward, 

going further, building the NASA Stennis future 

together.

Richard J. Gilbrech, Ph.D.

NASA Stennis Space Center Director

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Vision

Innovate to transform propulsion 

testing, empower intelligent space missions, 

and modernize support services to maximize 

partnership opportunities that secure NASA Stennis’ future. 

Mission

NASA Stennis accelerates the exploration 

and commercialization of space, 

innovates to benefit NASA and

industry, and leverages assets 

to stimulate the economy and 

enhance national security. 

Vision 

Exploring the secrets of the universe for the benefit of all.

Mission

NASA explores the unknown in air and space, 

innovates for the benefit of humanity, and

inspires the world through discovery.

NASA STENNIS

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Propulsion

Goal:

1.0 NASA Stennis will operate a 

multi-user propulsion testing 

enterprise that accelerates the 

development of aerospace systems 

and services by government and 

industry. 

Objectives: 

1.1 Use market-driven, business 

case analyses to guide investments 

that enable a sustainable propulsion 

testing capability for components, 

subsystems, engines, and stages.

1.2 Innovate to modernize 

engineering, operations, and 

infrastructure to maintain high 

utilization of propulsion testing 

assets and capabilities by 

government and industry.

1.3 Develop, demonstrate, and 

deploy technologies that enhance 

the effectiveness and efficiency of 

the propulsion test mission.

1.4 Modernize business and support 

services to reduce the time and cost 

to conduct propulsion testing at 

NASA Stennis.

“We’re looking forward to writing some new 

history at Stennis. The access to infrastructure 

in Mississippi is unparalleled.”

- Relativity Space Co-founder/CEO Tim Ellis

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Goal:

2.0 NASA Stennis will review, 

validate, and adjust the Federal City 

business model to enable growth and 

improve long-term sustainability.

Objectives:

2.1 Create a long-term capital 

improvement plan for horizontal 

and vertical infrastructure in the 

Federal City.

2.2 Optimize the Federal City footprint 

to create opportunities for growth.

2.3 Validate existing service levels 

to meet the needs and budgetary 

constraints of Federal City tenants.

2.4 Increase awareness of the value 

of the Federal City to current and 

prospective tenants.

Federal City

“The unique NASA Stennis Federal 

City model creates significant value 

for NASA and its tenants by sharing 

common costs, enabling greater 

operational and mission efficiency.”

- NASA Stennis Associate Director 

Rodney McKellip

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AU TO N OMO U S LAB O R

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SYSTEMS

NASA

STEN

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S

PACE

CENTER

Goal: 

3.0 NASA Stennis will design autonomous 

systems that accelerate the development of 

intelligent aerospace systems and services by 

government and industry.

Objectives: 

3.1 Conduct a competitive assessment of 

autonomous systems capabilities to identify 

strengths and weaknesses.

3.2 Conduct a market survey to identify 

potential government and industry customers.

3.3 Develop a plan to diversify autonomous 

systems capabilities to respond to the needs 

of the market.

3.4 Develop partnerships with NASA, industry, 

and other government entities to create and 

deploy intelligent, autonomous systems.

Autonomous

Systems

“We can do things fast (with this team). This 

(simulation) was really impressive.”

- Lockheed Martin Space Systems Director Paul Anderson, 

after viewing a NASA Stennis demonstration of autonomous 

systems capabilities required for space operations

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Range

Operations

Goal: 

4.0 NASA Stennis will leverage 

unique capabilities, including 

the restricted airspace, canal 

system, buffer zone, and 

infrastructure to support 

testing and operation of 

uncrewed systems.

Objectives: 

4.1 Use market-driven, 

business case analyses to 

identify uncrewed systems 

activities that benefit from 

NASA Stennis range assets 

and infrastructure.

4.2 Identify gaps that must be 

mitigated to expand utilization 

of the range.

4.3 Create a range operations 

business model that increases 

range utilization.

“If I had to design an ideal 

setting for a variety of range 

operations, it would look a lot 

like NASA Stennis.”

– NASA Stennis Center Operations 

Director Pat Appelman

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Workforce

Development

Goal:

5.0 NASA Stennis will cultivate a civil 

servant workforce representative of 

NASA’s core values with the skills to 

transform, optimize, and modernize the 

work of NASA Stennis for the future.

Objectives:

5.1 Seek innovative ways to 

intentionally recruit a diverse, highperformance civil servant workforce, 

and cultivate a flexible, inspiring, 

and inclusive workplace environment 

to maximize employee and mission 

success.

5.2 Proactively invest in personnel 

development to upskill and reskill the 

workforce to align with the rapidly 

evolving needs of NASA and our 

industry partners.

5.3 Identify and implement additional 

opportunities to build workforce 

efficiencies through better integration 

of mission support services across 

NASA Stennis and the NASA Shared 

Services Center.

“Our focus at NASA Stennis is clear – to identify, 

train, and retain the workforce that will lead into 

tomorrow and beyond.”

 – NASA Stennis Deputy Director John Bailey

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www.nasa.gov

www.nasa/gov/centers/stennis