W. James Adams
Encyclopedia
W. James Adams is the Deputy Director of the Planetary Science Division in NASA’s
Science Mission Directorate
. In this capacity, he oversees the Discovery, New Frontiers, Lunar Science and Mars
programs and is responsible for the development of several key technologies including Ion Propulsion, Radioisotope Power Systems and Pu-238
production strategies.
from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania
in 1979. He completed the General Electric
Systems Engineering Development Program in 1987 and earned his M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering
from Villanova University
in Villanova
, Pennsylvania in 1989. In addition to his academic achievements, Adams holds a private pilot’s license.
, is responsible for NASA Solar System exploration efforts including the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
, Mars Exploration Rover
, and New Horizons
missions.
He has experience in both industry and government. In 1979 Adams joined General Electric as an engineer working on a variety of military and civilian space systems. In 1989, he went to work for NASA at the Goddard Space Flight Center
as a Space Station Freedom
Systems Integration Manager. Most recently he served as the Project Manager for the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite
(TDRS). During his career, Adams has worked on the design, development, testing and operations of over 24 launched spacecraft, across three scientific disciplines and human spaceflight
.
, NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal
, NASA Exceptional Service Medal
, and the “Business Solutions in the Public Interest” award from the Council for Excellence in Government
.
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
Science Mission Directorate
Science Mission Directorate
The Science Mission Directorate of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration engages the United States’ science community, sponsors scientific research, and develops and deploys satellites and probes in collaboration with NASA’s partners around the world to answer fundamental questions...
. In this capacity, he oversees the Discovery, New Frontiers, Lunar Science and Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
programs and is responsible for the development of several key technologies including Ion Propulsion, Radioisotope Power Systems and Pu-238
Plutonium-238
-External links:**...
production strategies.
Education
Adams earned his B.S. degree in PhysicsPhysics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in 1979. He completed the General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
Systems Engineering Development Program in 1987 and earned his M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
from Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
in Villanova
Villanova, Pennsylvania
Villanova is a community in the United States Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It straddles Lower Merion Township of Montgomery County and Radnor Township of Delaware County. It is located at the center of the Pennsylvania Main Line, a series of highly affluent Philadelphia suburban towns located...
, Pennsylvania in 1989. In addition to his academic achievements, Adams holds a private pilot’s license.
Career
As the Deputy Director of Planetary Science in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Adams is responsible for the budget, scheduling, and performance of NASA’s planetary missions. The Planetary Science Division, directed by James L. GreenJames L. Green (scientist)
James Lauer Green is an American space physicist born in Burlington, Iowa. After receiving a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Iowa, Green began his professional career working in the Magnetospheric Physics Branch at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center...
, is responsible for NASA Solar System exploration efforts including the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
The Lunar Precursor Robotic Program is a program of robotic spacecraft missions which NASA will use to prepare for future human spaceflight missions to the Moon. Two LPRP missions, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite , were launched in June 2009...
, Mars Exploration Rover
Mars Exploration Rover
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Mission is an ongoing robotic space mission involving two rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, exploring the planet Mars...
, and New Horizons
New Horizons
New Horizons is a NASA robotic spacecraft mission currently en route to the dwarf planet Pluto. It is expected to be the first spacecraft to fly by and study Pluto and its moons, Charon, Nix, Hydra and S/2011 P 1. Its estimated arrival date at the Pluto-Charon system is July 14th, 2015...
missions.
He has experience in both industry and government. In 1979 Adams joined General Electric as an engineer working on a variety of military and civilian space systems. In 1989, he went to work for NASA at the Goddard Space Flight Center
Goddard Space Flight Center
The Goddard Space Flight Center is a major NASA space research laboratory established on May 1, 1959 as NASA's first space flight center. GSFC employs approximately 10,000 civil servants and contractors, and is located approximately northeast of Washington, D.C. in Greenbelt, Maryland, USA. GSFC,...
as a Space Station Freedom
Space Station Freedom
Space Station Freedom was a NASA project to construct a permanently manned Earth-orbiting space station in the 1980s. Although approved by then-president Ronald Reagan and announced in the 1984 State of the Union Address, Freedom was never constructed or completed as originally designed, and after...
Systems Integration Manager. Most recently he served as the Project Manager for the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite
Tracking and Data Relay Satellite
A Tracking and Data Relay Satellite is a type of communications satellite that forms part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System used by NASA and other United States government agencies for communications to and from independent "User Platforms" such as satellites, balloons, aircraft,...
(TDRS). During his career, Adams has worked on the design, development, testing and operations of over 24 launched spacecraft, across three scientific disciplines and human spaceflight
Human spaceflight
Human spaceflight is spaceflight with humans on the spacecraft. When a spacecraft is manned, it can be piloted directly, as opposed to machine or robotic space probes and remotely-controlled satellites....
.
Awards and honors
Adams has received a number of awards and honors during his career, including the NASA Outstanding Leadership MedalNASA Outstanding Leadership Medal
The NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal is awarded to government employees only for notably outstanding leadership which affects technical or administrative programs of NASA...
, NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal
NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal
The NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal is an award of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration that was established in 1991. The medal is awarded to both civilian members of NASA and military astronauts....
, NASA Exceptional Service Medal
NASA Exceptional Service Medal
The NASA Exceptional Service Medal is an award granted to U.S. government employees for significant sustained performance characterized by unusual initiative or creative ability that clearly demonstrates substantial improvement in engineering, aeronautics, space flight, administration, support, or...
, and the “Business Solutions in the Public Interest” award from the Council for Excellence in Government
Council for Excellence in Government
The Council for Excellence in Government was a public/private partnership organization initiated in the 1980s designed to improve the effectiveness of federal, state, and local government in the United States. The organization ceased to operate in 2009 and the majority of its staff and programs...
.