Teresa Vanhooser

Teresa Vanhooser is an engineer and the former Deputy Director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. Named to the position in 2012, Vanhooser helped manage one of NASA's largest field installations and oversaw a broad range of propulsion, scientific, and space transportation activities contributing to the nation's space program. She retired in 2015.

Previously, Vanhooser was manager of the Flight Programs & Partnerships Office at the Marshall Center from 2011-2012. She held primary responsibility for managing the implementation of the center's work portfolio in the areas of human exploration projects and tasks; flight mission programs and projects; and external government, industry, and academic partnerships around the world.

From 2010 to 2011, Vanhooser was director of Ares Projects at the Marshall Center. Her responsibilities included the overall integration of the launch vehicle system, and development of a first stage derived from the current space shuttle booster and motor elements, and a new upper stage powered by a J-2X main engine. From 2009 to 2010, Vanhooser was acting manager for Ares Projects; she served as deputy manager for Ares Projects from 2007-2009.

Vanhooser has received numerous NASA awards, including a NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal in 2011 for her leadership during the transition of the Ares launch vehicle development effort to align with changing agency goals; a Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executives - the highest honor for career federal employees - in 2006; and a NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal in 1994 for her management of ATLAS-2. In 1992, she was presented a Silver Snoopy award by the Astronaut Corps for her contributions to the success of human space flight missions - specifically for her support of ATLAS-1.