Internal NASA/JPL Memo: Eugene Trinh Accepts Position of Director, NASA Management Office

Dear Colleagues:

I am happy to announce that Dr. Eugene Trinh has accepted the position of Director, NASA Management Office (NMO), at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, CA, effective December 11, 2005. The Director, NMO, is responsible for providing senior management oversight of the Caltech/JPL contract with NASA and providing management support to NASA program offices and Centers for NASA work performed at JPL. Dr. Trinh will also be responsible for providing on-site institutional management oversight, including leadership for negotiating NASA contract requirements with Caltech/JPL, and overseeing contract management activities related to the NASA contracts with the Commonwealth of Australia and with the government of Spain for NASA’s satellite tracking facilities in these two countries.

Dr. Trinh has been Manager of the Human System Research and Technology development program in the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. Since 1999, Dr. Trinh has held the positions of Biological and Physical Research (OBPR) and Director of the Microgravity Research Division in the former Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications (OLMSA). Prior to that time, Dr. Trinh was a Senior Research Scientist at JPL where, for twenty years, he conducted experimental and theoretical research in Fluid Dynamics, Fundamental Materials Science, and Levitation Technology. Dr. Trinh was one of two science payload specialists on the first United States Microgravity Laboratory (USML-1) Space Shuttle flight. This Spacelab mission was launched on June 25, 1992, and lasted a record-breaking 14 days. Dr. Trinh graduated with a BS in Engineering from Columbia University and obtained a PhD degree in Engineering from Yale University.

Gene will fill the position vacated by Dr. Robert Parker, who retires after more than 30 years of service to NASA. In the interim period (between now and December 11, 2005), Jeff Lupis and Tim Howell will serve as Acting Directors of the NMO. Please join me in wishing Bob a happy retirement, and in welcoming Gene into his new position.