NASA has selected Shawn Quinn as manager of the Exploration Ground Systems program based at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, effective Sunday, Jan. 15. Quinn earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1990.
In this role, Quinn will lead the team responsible for developing and operating the systems necessary to process and launch NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft on Artemis Moon missions.
“It’s aways inspiring to see Tech ECE alumni making a difference in the world,” said ECE School Chair and Professor Arijit Raychowdhury. “As if NASA’s Artemis Moon missions weren’t exciting enough, the ECE community can also take pride in one of our own playing such a prominent role. I’m thrilled for Shawn and wish him continued success.”
Quinn brings more than 35 years of NASA experience to the role. He has previous experience with the Exploration Ground Systems Program, serving as the associate program manager. Since 2018, he served as the director of engineering at Kennedy’s spaceport, where he led a large organization of engineers from multiple disciplines in the design, development, and operations of spaceflight hardware and ground systems in support of programs and projects assigned to Kennedy, including commercial crew, launch services, ground systems, and the International Space Station.
“The work done on the ground at Kennedy to prepare for missions to the Moon is essential to the success of Artemis,” said Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro. “Across several roles at Kennedy, Shawn has demonstrated outstanding leadership, mentoring, and technical skills, and will be a tremendous asset in his new role supporting Artemis and humanity’s return to the Moon.”
After graduating from Georgia Tech in 1990, Quinn earned a master's degree from the University of Central Florida in 1994. In 2008, he completed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology System Design and Management program and received a master’s degree in engineering and management. Among Quinn’s awards are the Presidential Rank Award, Kennedy ‘s Strategic Leadership Award, and NASA’s Silver Snoopy Award.
Read more about Georgia Tech and NASA's Artemis program:
- Georgia Tech astronaut Sandy Magnus discusses America's return to the moon: https://coe.gatech.edu/news/2022/11/artemis-begins-new-era-space.
- Georgia Tech experts on the launch of Artemis 1 and why the moon matters for the future of space exploration: https://news.gatech.edu/BackToTheMoon.
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For more information about the Exploration Ground Systems Program, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/groundsystems.
Significant content taken from NASA’s original press release.