# Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman Appointed NASA JPL Deputy Director Former astronaut transitions to strategic leadership role at Caltech and JPL starting November 2026. - **Source:** [NASA](https://www.nasa.gov) - **Published:** 2026-10-29 - **Topic:** [Leadership](https://brifing.si/c/leadership) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/07e47652-4f6a-479c-90c2-b05349b30f01 ## Strategic Leadership Transition Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman has been appointed as Caltech associate vice president and deputy director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The retired U.S. Navy captain and emeritus astronaut will officially assume his new duties on November 30, 2026. He joins the institution to oversee strategic laboratory operations and institutional planning. ## Operational Oversight Responsibilities As the Center Management Authority for JPL mission execution, Wiseman will manage laboratory operations and ensure compliance with federal and state regulations. He is tasked with the continuous improvement of mission support functions. Furthermore, he will serve as the primary interface for national security programs, bridging institutional goals with federal requirements. ## Deep Space Mission Heritage Wiseman brings extensive operational experience from his tenure as commander of the Artemis II test flight. During this mission, he and his crew traveled 695,081 miles on a lunar flyby, reaching distances further than any humans in history. This background informs his new role in managing complex, high-stakes deep space exploration projects. ## Institutional Management Partnership Caltech manages the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA, a partnership spanning nearly 90 years. Wiseman will work closely with JPL director Dave Gallagher to align laboratory objectives with Caltech’s academic and research standards. His role focuses on stewardship and strengthening the collaborative framework between the university and the federal research center. ## Career Path and Expertise Joining NASA’s astronaut corps in 2009, Wiseman served as a flight engineer on the International Space Station during the 165-day Expedition 41 mission. He later acted as NASA’s chief astronaut from December 2020 to November 2022. His career includes significant experience in crew flight readiness, safety protocols, and conducting scientific experiments. ## Technical and Academic Background Wiseman holds a bachelor’s degree in computer and systems engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He furthered his education with a master’s degree in systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University. His professional history as a combat pilot and test pilot provides the technical judgment necessary for leading complex robotics and space exploration. ## Extreme Environment Leadership Beyond his spaceflight experience, Wiseman commanded NASA’s 21st Extreme Environment Mission Operations expedition in 2016. During this project, he lived for eight days in an underwater habitat. This mission demonstrated his ability to lead teams in isolated, high-pressure environments, a skill set he now applies to managing JPL’s diverse research teams. ## Future Exploration Mandate Wiseman joins JPL as the laboratory approaches its 90th anniversary. His appointment signals a focus on integrating pioneering spirit with rigorous operational management to push the limits of human reach. By leveraging his unique perspective from deep space, he aims to elevate America’s space ambitions and drive future technological innovation. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/jpl/caltech-names-artemis-ii-commander-reid-wiseman-as-nasa-jpl-deputy/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._