Robert Hanley Deputy Manager, Gateway Operations Integration NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Robert J. Hanley is the deputy manager for the Operations Integration Office and acting deputy manager for the Utilization Office for NASA’s Gateway Program.  Robert helps to lead the integration of flight operations, and utilization and science integration in support of the Gateway which will be assembled in cis-lunar space to support NASA’s forward mission to land humans on the moon and provide a stepping stone to Mars.  He is located at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Robert began his career at the Johnson Space Center in 1987 in support of the Space Shuttle program as an engineer in the Vehicle Integration Test Office. He supported the International Space Station (ISS) Program starting in 1996 with assembly and checkout of Space Station elements for astronaut flight crew operations.  He provided lead roles with the first element of the Space Station’s Unity module as well as the US Laboratory, and robotic elements provided by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

Beginning in 2005, Robert served as the ISS chief engineer for the Astronaut Office providing leadership for engineering support of the ISS, visiting vehicles to the ISS, crew procedures and payloads. He was also a certified ISS Capsule Communicator (Capcom) for the conduct of integrated simulations and real-time mission operations in NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston.

In 2013, Robert served as the first non-astronaut Technical Deputy to the Chief of the Astronaut Office. He assisted with office oversight including ISS integration, CapCom office, information technology, administrative staff, astronaut appearances and contractor management.

In 2018, Robert conducted a detail at NASA headquarters in the Office of the Administrator as the Council Executive for agency program management councils. He provided strategic support to senior NASA leadership, and program and project executives to conduct decisional council and acquisition meetings and managed monthly performance reporting for mission directorates and mission support offices.

Born in Victoria, Texas, Robert earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

Robert is married and lives in League City, Texas just south of the Johnson Space Center.