Emilio A. Cruz

Emilio A. Cruz, Deputy Director of Exploration Research and Technology Programs at NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida, plays a crucial role in the agency's operations. The ER&T Programs oversee ground processing for the International Space Station, payload integration, and research support, while also managing NASA Kennedy's broader research and technology portfolio.

Cruz began his NASA career in 1991 at the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, where he held various positions including engineer and project manager. He contributed significantly to organizational leadership through source evaluation committees, safety initiatives, and advisory councils. Cruz joined NASA Kennedy in 1999 as a flight systems test engineer, ensuring mission-critical contamination issues were resolved.

He later took on roles such as program integration manager, contracting officer’s technical representative, acting program business office chief, and chief of the Flight Projects Support Branch.

In these positions, Cruz managed launch services contracts, oversaw major programs, and ensured alignment of resources with mission needs. As chief of the Mechanical Division, he led over 120 engineers, providing structural and mechanical systems expertise for diverse programs. He also served as deputy chief for the Flight Projects, Technical Performance, and Integration Division, maintaining a unified technical interface for engineering customers.

Cruz has also acted as associate director of Engineering, managing the center's civil service and contractor engineering workforce, and advancing NASA Kennedy's engineering capabilities. Cruz holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Miami and a Master of Science in industrial engineering from Cleveland State University.