Will Oversee Program Until Shuttle's Retirement
Aero-News learned Tuesday David E.
Beaman has been appointed to the federal Senior Executive Service
and named manager of the Reusable Solid Rocket Booster Project,
Shuttle Propulsion Office, at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
in Huntsville, AL. In his new position, Beaman will oversee the
project responsible for the planning, budgeting, scheduling,
engineering design and development, integration, test, evaluation,
and launch operations of the space shuttle reusable solid rocket
boosters until the orbiter's 2010 retirement.
Beaman joined NASA in 2000 and has held several technical and
leadership positions in the Reusable Solid Rocket Motor Project
office. He served as team leader of the Reusable Solid Rocket Motor
Engineering and Integration office from December 2002 to September
2004; assistant manager of the Reusable Solid Rocket Motor Project
office from September 2004 to March 2005; and deputy project
manager of the Reusable Solid Rocket Motor Project office from
March 2005 to January 2007. When the Solid Rocket Booster and Solid
Rocket Motor Project offices merged in January 2007, he was
appointed deputy manager in the Reusable Solid Rocket Booster
Project office and served in that position until his recent
appointment.
During his NASA career, Beaman has led several high profile
activities, including the Reusable Solid Rocket Motor for Space
Shuttle Program Return to Flight activities and the transition of
the Booster Separation Motor.
Prior to joining NASA in 2000, Beaman worked for Technology
Development Corporation of Huntsville, AL from 1989 to 1990,
supporting US Army military research and development programs at
Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. In 1990, he accepted a position
with United Technology's USBI Company in Huntsville, and later with
United Space Alliance in Huntsville, where he worked on the
Advanced Solid Rocket Motor Program and in the Solid Rocket Booster
Project.
Beaman earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in
1990 from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
He has received numerous awards throughout his NASA career,
including the NASA Medal for Exceptional Achievement in July 2004.
He was a Space Flight Awareness honoree in July 2005 for his
dedication to quality work and flight safety and has received
several special service and group achievement awards.
The Senior Executive Service is the personnel system covering
top managerial positions in approximately 75 federal agencies.