James Free

Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Development
NASA

James Free was selected as the associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at the agency’s Headquarters in Washington by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on Sept. 20, 2021.

At the time of Free’s appointment, NASA also announced the directorate leading all the agency’s human spaceflight operations would separate into two areas. Free will lead a new directorate the agency is establishing, as well as work closely with the Space Operations Mission Directorate.

Jim Free leads America’s deep space human exploration efforts and is responsible for defining and managing the systems for NASA’s Artemis missions and planning for the agency’s Moon to Mars exploration approach, including defining its lunar and Mars architectures.

---

Related Videos

Moon to Mars Strategy Implementation

Originally aired: May 17, 2023

---