NASA engineer and astronaut Christina Koch will assume the acting deputy chief engineer role starting Sunday, November 1, following Katherine Van Hooser’s retirement after more than 35 years of distinguished service ending Wednesday, October 21.
In this position, Koch will lead NASA’s engineering community, providing technical oversight, ensuring mission readiness, and advancing engineering excellence across agency programs and projects. The appointment also elevates her to management‑astronaut status and ends her eligibility for further spaceflight assignments.
“Christina has witnessed NASA engineering at every stage—designing systems on the ground and relying on their safety in orbit,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “Having lived and operated aboard the International Space Station for nearly a year and played a key role in steering humanity toward Artemis II, she combines deep technical knowledge, operational savvy, and sharp judgment. I look forward to the difference she will make as we return to the Moon, establish Lunar Gateway infrastructure, launch nuclear propulsion for space, and pave the path to Mars.”
“Katherine was a distinguished leader whose technical acumen, sound judgment, and steadfast dedication drove mission success on some of NASA’s most demanding engineering challenges,” observed NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya, chief engineer. “Her stewardship has fortified our engineering team and guided the agency through pivotal milestones and transitions. Christina contributes a distinct blend of engineering mastery, operational insight, and demonstrated leadership—whether on Earth or in space. I am grateful for Katherine’s invaluable service and convinced that Christina will continue the legacy of technical excellence central to NASA’s achievements.”
Most recently, Koch served as a mission specialist on NASA’s Artemis II flight in April, delivering the agency’s first crewed lunar orbit mission in over half a century. She previously logged 328 consecutive days aboard the International Space Station, setting the record for the longest uninterrupted solo spaceflight by a woman, and participated in the inaugural all‑female spacewalks. These experiences equip her to drive innovation and sustain astronaut health during deeper‑space endeavors.
Koch’s professional trajectory began at Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, where she worked as an electrical engineer developing scientific instruments for interplanetary missions. Prior to her selection as an astronaut in 2013, she led scientific field engineering tasks in Antarctica and the Arctic. Since then, she has held leadership roles within NASA’s Astronaut Office and at Johnson Space Center in Houston, merging technical expertise with hands‑on experience of human spaceflight to inform her upcoming responsibilities.
Van Hooser joined NASA in 1991 at the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, beginning a distinguished career in propulsion engineering and technical leadership. Her early work focused on liquid rocket engine turbomachinery before she became chief engineer for the space shuttle main engine, leading engineering efforts through the final 21 shuttle flights. She later served as the first chief engineer for the Space Launch System’s Liquid Engines Element, helping advance the propulsion systems supporting NASA’s Artemis missions.
As Marshall’s chief engineer and, since 2023, NASA’s deputy chief engineer, Van Hooser provided critical technical leadership and oversight across agency programs. Her consistent guidance through complex engineering hurdles and organizational transitions sustained continuity, reinforced collaboration, and kept mission readiness front‑and‑center at NASA. Leadership role: Headquartered at Marshall, notable contacts include George Alderman and Cheryl Warner for additional background information.