Mr. Stephen Altemus currently serves as the Founder and President of Intuitive Machines. Intuitive Machines is an engineering solutions company that brings unique expertise in control systems, motor control, advanced manufacturing, mechanics, electronics, software development, computational analysis, and sensing to solve significant challenges across multiple industries including Aerospace, Medicine, and Energy. Prior to founding Intuitive Machines, Mr. Altemus was appointed to serve as the Deputy Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC), a Center charged with overseeing human spaceflight plans and programs for the Agency. The space center employs and directs over 11,000 civil servants and contractors with an annual budget of nearly $5B. He lead and directed human spaceflight architecting efforts identifying affordable concepts for taking humans to the edge of deep space while growing the US technological economy and continuing international competitiveness, providing the Nation with a sustainable and flexible approach to addressing the major challenges in human spaceflight.
Formerly Director of Engineering from July 2006 to December 2012, Mr. Altemus served as the leader and steward of the Johnson Space Center's engineering capabilities in support of NASA's human spaceflight programs, projects, and technology activities. He actively lead an organization of 2,800 employees through the conceptualization, design, development, testing, and evaluation of aerospace systems for use in human, robotic, and automated space flight for low earth orbit and deep space missions. He is a senior executive with demonstrated knowledge of engineering and scientific disciplines, and in-depth understanding of aerospace systems engineering and integration for the Space Shuttle, International Space Station, human space exploration, and advanced aerospace programs.
Mr. Altemus is a visionary and accomplished leader with tremendous ability to formulate and execute insightful strategic initiatives, sound organizational strategies, and technical solutions that drive excellence and advancement in human space-flight for our Nation’s space programs. He is a recipient of the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, NASA Federal Engineer of the Year Award, Presidential Executive Rank Award, and NASA Exceptional Service Medal.
Mr. Altemus received his B.S. Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University where he now serves as a member on the Engineering Advisory Board, and his M.S. Degree in Engineering Management from the University of Central Florida. He joined NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and the Space Shuttle Program in 1989 where he held progressively more responsible positions working in Space Shuttle operations, launch, and landing activities. He served as the Columbia Reconstruction Director after the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia on February 1, 2003. In January 2005, he joined JSC serving as the Deputy Director of Engineering and was subsequently selected as Director in July 2006.