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Craig, Mark K., 1948-

 Person

Biographical Information

Raised in Midland Texas, Mark K. Craig began his career at NASA in Houston as a co-op student on the Apollo program in 1967. An expert in spacecraft engineering and analysis, there he subsequently contributed to the Apollo-Soyuz, Space Shuttle, Space Station, Mars Rover Sample Return, and Lunar-Mars Exploration programs in positions progressing from engineer to program manager. At NASA Headquarters in Washington Mark was Assistant Administrator, Exploration, (Acting) and architect of the NASA Strategic Plan. He was Associate Center Director, Space Development and Commerce of the Johnson Space Center and Deputy Director and Director (Acting) of the Stennis Space Center. For museums and themed attractions he is an advisor on space exploration. After retiring from a 38-year career with NASA, Mark supported NASA as Vice President of Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) from which he retired in 2015. At that time he was presented an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol at the request of Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III of MA to honor his 48 years of service to the Nation’s space program.

Mark earned a B.S. in Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University in 1971, pursued engineering graduate study at Rice University, and completed the MIT Sloan Program for Senior Executives. He has authored over 40 articles and papers on technical and strategic aspects of space exploration and has received numerous awards including the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Stellar Award, and NSPE Federal Engineer of the Year Award. He is a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus of Purdue and a Fellow of the American Astronautical Society. Mark was elected to the International Academy of Astronautics in 1992 and was elected President of the American Astronautical Society in 2005. He is an Elder of the Presbyterian Church, a member of the National Eagle Scout Association, and is a Patron of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.

Citation

Biographical statement provided by Mark Craig.