![\"Brian](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/nhq202506250014.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>NASA announced Friday that Brian Hughes will return to the agency as senior director of launch operations, based at the agency\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In this role, Hughes will provide enterprise-level leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for NASA\u2019s launch infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Reporting to NASA Headquarters in Washington, Hughes will have direct responsibility for launch operations at NASA Kennedy, as well as the agency\u2019s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. He will work across government, industry, and local leadership to strengthen coordination among stakeholders supporting NASA\u2019s spaceports, enable increased launch cadence, and support execution of the President\u2019s National Space Policy to ensure continued American leadership in space.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrian brings a unique combination of operational expertise, strategic leadership, and public service experience at the highest levels of government,\u201d said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. \u201cHis track record leading complex organizations and executing high-stakes missions makes him exceptionally well-suited to help shape the future of NASA\u2019s launch operations as we accelerate into a new era of exploration and innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Most recently, Hughes served as NASA\u2019s chief of staff, where he helped drive agencywide priorities and decision-making. Prior to NASA, he served as deputy national security advisor for Strategic Communications at the White House, helping shape policy and communications on national security matters.<\/p>\n
Hughes also served as chief administrative officer for the City of Jacksonville, overseeing a workforce of more than 7,000 employees and managing a multi-billion-dollar budget across public safety, infrastructure, and emergency management operations. Earlier in his career, he served as chief of staff to former Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and as chief executive officer of the Downtown Investment Authority, leading economic development initiatives across the city.<\/p>\n
A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Hughes served as a KC-135 aircrew member during operations over the Middle East in support of the Gulf War.<\/p>\n
His return comes as NASA continues advancing a growing portfolio of civil, commercial, and national security launch activities across its spaceport infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Learn more about NASA\u2019s mission at:<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.nasa.gov<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n -end-<\/p>\n Bethany Stevens \/ George Alderman
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
bethany.c.stevens@nasa.gov<\/a> \/ george.a.alderman@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\nShare<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n