Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman Named JPL Deputy Director

Reid Wiseman, commander of NASA's Artemis II mission, has been named deputy director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. Caltech, which manages JPL for NASA, also appointed him associate vice president. He is an emeritus astronaut and retired U.S. Navy captain. Wiseman starts the new role on Nov. 30, 2026.

JPL is NASA's center for robotic space exploration. The lab's scientists and engineers have built and operated Mars rovers, deep-space probes, and planetary orbiters for decades. As deputy director, Wiseman will work alongside JPL Director Dave Gallagher to guide operations and shape the lab's future direction.

A Career Built in Extreme Places

Wiseman grew up in Baltimore. He earned a bachelor's degree in computer and systems engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He then joined the Navy, flying combat missions and serving as a test pilot. He later completed a master's degree in systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University, also in Baltimore. NASA selected him for its astronaut corps in 2009.

His first trip to orbit came in 2014. He served as a flight engineer aboard the International Space Station for 165 days during Expedition 41. In 2016, he commanded NASA's 21st Extreme Environment Mission Operations expedition. That assignment placed him in an underwater habitat on the ocean floor for eight days. During his years at NASA, he took part in hundreds of scientific experiments.

From December 2020 to November 2022, Wiseman served as NASA's chief astronaut. He led the astronaut corps and oversaw crew flight readiness and safety for every human spaceflight mission the agency ran. That post gave him a broad view of how large space programs function at a systems level.

Artemis II and a Human Distance Record

Wiseman's most visible mission was commanding NASA's Artemis II test flight. His crew included Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. Together, they traveled 695,081 miles on a loop around the Moon. That trip took them farther from Earth than any humans had ever gone before.

JPL Director Dave Gallagher tied that journey to the lab's own legacy. For nearly 90 years, JPL has sent robotic spacecraft into the far reaches of the solar system and beyond. He said Wiseman's drive for discovery and ability to inspire people made him a natural fit for the team.

What Wiseman Will Do as NASA JPL's New Deputy Director

The new role carries broad responsibilities. Wiseman will lead JPL's strategic direction and oversee the continuous improvement of lab operations. He will ensure the lab meets NASA requirements and complies with applicable federal and state regulations. He will also work with Caltech on institutional planning, management, and oversight.

Wiseman will hold the title of Center Management Authority for JPL mission execution. That title makes him accountable for mission support functions across the lab meeting NASA's operational standards. He will also serve as JPL's primary contact for national security programs. That work mostly stays out of public view. It reflects JPL's standing as a federally funded research and development center with duties beyond pure science.

JPL is nearing its 90th anniversary since Caltech founded it. The lab manages an active set of missions while preparing the next generation of spacecraft for launch. Wiseman's background in systems engineering, crew safety, and mission operations connects directly to those demands.

What Senior Leaders Said

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised the appointment in a statement posted on the NASA website. "Reid has spent his career at the edge of what is possible," Isaacman said. He added that Wiseman's technical judgment, operational experience, and leadership record prepared him to keep pushing further from his new post at JPL.

Caltech President Ray Jayawardhana said Wiseman's background was unprecedented and would strengthen the lab's leadership team. Wiseman said the move felt like a fitting next step. "What an awesome time in my career to join this team," he said in the official announcement. He pointed to the chance to help JPL tackle ambitious work for NASA and the nation.

Why the Move Matters

JPL built its name on missions that carry no crew. Its engineers design spacecraft and run them from the ground, often across vast distances. Putting a veteran crewed-mission astronaut in the deputy director's chair is a signal. It suggests NASA and Caltech want to link the robotic and human sides of space exploration more closely. The Artemis program is already pushing toward a crewed Moon landing and, further out, missions to Mars.

The connection between robotic and crewed work is practical, not just symbolic. Rovers survey potential landing sites. They measure radiation and test hardware before any crew arrives. A deputy director who has lived on the ocean floor, overseen crew safety across the full NASA program, and commanded a lunar mission carries that knowledge firsthand. It is the kind of experience a traditional research career alone cannot replicate.

What to Watch

Wiseman joins JPL at the end of November as the lab runs its current missions and prepares future launches. His oversight of national security programs will largely unfold outside public view. His position also puts him in place to shape which missions JPL pursues next. How the lab allocates its resources will partly reflect his priorities.

For anyone tracking the U.S. space program, one larger question remains. How will Wiseman's background shape JPL's role in NASA's human exploration effort? Robotic missions have long prepared the path that crewed missions follow. With a seasoned astronaut now in a senior operations post, that relationship may grow more deliberate in the years ahead.