NASA’s Scott Tingle to Serve as Agency’s Chief Astronaut
NASA has announced the appointment of astronaut Scott Tingle as the new chief of the Astronaut Office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, effective November 10. Tingle, a seasoned spaceflight veteran and former U.S. Navy captain, brings a wealth of experience to this leadership role, having logged over 4,500 flight hours across 51 different aircraft. His remarkable journey with NASA began when he was selected as an astronaut in 2009, and he has since served as a flight engineer aboard the International Space Station (ISS), most recently during Expedition 54/55, where he spent more than six months in orbit. Tingle’s responsibilities as chief astronaut will include managing astronaut resources, overseeing flight crew operations, and making crew assignments for upcoming missions, notably the Artemis missions aimed at returning humans to the Moon.
In her congratulatory remarks, Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche expressed gratitude for Tingle’s selection, highlighting his extensive background and contributions to the astronaut corps. Wyche also acknowledged the previous chief, Joe Acaba, who served in the role since February 2023 and is now transitioning to a position on the center director’s staff, where he will provide technical guidance on mission planning and strategy. Acaba’s efforts were pivotal in preparing astronauts for missions to the ISS and in developing technologies that enhance the safety and efficiency of space travel. Tingle’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Southeastern Massachusetts University and a master’s degree from Purdue University, equipping him with the technical expertise necessary for his new role.
Tingle’s appointment comes at a crucial time for NASA as the agency ramps up its human spaceflight initiatives, particularly with the Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon and eventually pave the way for future Mars explorations. As chief of the Astronaut Office, Tingle will play a critical role in shaping the future of human space exploration, ensuring that NASA’s astronaut corps is well-prepared for the challenges ahead. His leadership is expected to inspire the next generation of astronauts and reinforce the agency’s commitment to advancing human exploration beyond low Earth orbit. For those interested in following Tingle’s journey and contributions, updates can be found on his social media platform, X.
NASA astronaut Scott Tingle
NASA named astronaut Scott Tingle as chief of the Astronaut Office at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, effective Nov. 10. A decorated spaceflight veteran and former captain in the United States Navy,
Tingle
has logged more than 4,500 flight hours in 51 different aircraft and served as a flight engineer aboard the International Space Station.
As chief astronaut, Tingle is responsible for managing astronaut resources and operations. He also will help develop astronaut flight crew operations and make crew assignments for future human spaceflight missions, including Artemis missions to the Moon.
“Our Johnson Space Center team congratulates Scott on his selection as chief of the Astronaut Office. We wish him well as he takes on this new and exciting leadership role,” said Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche. “I extend my sincerest thanks to Joe Acaba, for his dedicated service to the Astronaut Office, as he completed the tremendous task of preparing our astronaut corps for daring missions to and from the International Space Station and integrated their expertise and space knowledge to develop and test future technologies, software, and procedures making space travel safer and more attainable for our nation’s explorers.”
A native of Randolph, Massachusetts, Tingle was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2009. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Southeastern Massachusetts University and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Tingle most recently served as a flight engineer aboard the space station, spending more than six months in orbit during Expedition 54/55. He was the flight engineer and United States Operational Segment lead for the mission, which launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard a Soyuz spacecraft on Dec. 17, 2017, and concluded with landing on June 3, 2018. Since returning to Earth, he has supported the Astronaut Office in various roles, including mission support, technical leadership, and crew readiness activities.
Before coming to NASA, Tingle worked for The Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, California, where he served as a technical staff member supporting the company’s propulsion department. He was commissioned as a naval officer in 1991 and went on to complete a distinguished career, earning the rank of captain before retiring. Follow Tingle on
X
.
Tingle succeeds NASA astronaut Joe Acaba, who had served as chief of the Astronaut Office since February 2023. Acaba has transitioned to the center director’s staff, where he provides technical advice on mission planning and strategy at NASA Johnson. In this new role, he leads the center’s alignment with NASA’s strategic plan and human spaceflight priorities, supports the agency’s STEM workforce goals, and advances collaboration with commercial space, academia, and other government partners as NASA continues its exploration beyond low Earth orbit.
Learn more about the International Space Station:
https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station
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Shaneequa Vereen
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
shaneequa.y.vereen@nasa.gov
