Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS-2022) Organizer

Bryan K. Smith

Director of Facilities, Test, and Manufacturing

NASA's Glenn Research Center

Bryan K. Smith is director of Facilities, Test, and Manufacturing at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s John H. Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. In this capacity, Smith is responsible for facility infrastructure and maintenance on all major test facilities at Glenn’s Lewis Field Campus. He also is responsible for flight research aircraft, manufacturing facilities, and the environmental management program.

Prior to this appointment, Smith served as director of Space Flight Systems from 2011 through 2020. In that role, he was responsible for the space missions assigned to the center with an annual budget of approximately $425 million. His accomplishments included overseeing the environmental testing and certification of the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission.

Smith has served in a number of leadership positions at NASA, including chief of Glenn’s Systems Engineering and Analysis Division and chief engineer for the NASA Engineering and Safety Center, which provides independent testing and analysis of NASA’s high-risk projects.

Smith began his career in 1983 at Rockwell International as a manufacturing system engineer and later as a production supervisor of military aircraft. Smith joined Glenn in 1987, supporting design and test activities for the development of the International Space Station’s power system. He then served as a launch vehicle mission manager where he was responsible for acquisition, integration and upgrades of launch vehicles.

After completing a two-year program executive assignment at NASA Headquarters, Smith returned to Glenn to serve assignments as chief of the Space Transportation Project Office, chief of the Nuclear Technology and Demonstration Project Office, and chief of Glenn's Crew Exploration Vehicle Project Office, supporting NASA's Space Science and Exploration Programs.

Smith earned his bachelor's degree in industrial and systems engineering from Ohio University, master’s degree in industrial engineering from Cleveland State University, master’s degree in engineering and management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a certificate in legislative studies from Georgetown University. He is the recipient of numerous NASA awards including NASA’s Significant Achievement Medal and the prestigious Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executives.