Kent Chojnacki is the deputy manager of NASA’s Human Landing System Program at the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. As the second ranking manager within the HLS Office, Chojnacki assists in the management of the HLS Program Office and development of integrated human landing systems for NASA’s Artemis campaign. Through Artemis, NASA, along with its industry and international partners, is preparing for sustained exploration of the Moon to advance science, discovery, and future human missions to Mars for the benefit of all. The commercial landing systems in development by HLS providers SpaceX and Blue Origin will safely send astronauts as well as large cargo from lunar orbit to the surface of the Moon.
Prior to his appointment as deputy manager in 2023 Chojnacki was the HLS Program’s Systems Engineering and Integration office manager. In that role, he led the office responsible for efforts for all activities associated with the programmatic, fiscal, and technical planning, procurement, design, development, testing, evaluation, production, and operation of the human landing element, including support equipment and facilities.
Chojnacki has more than 25 years of experience in the design and development of advanced space transportation vehicles, including the agency’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket that will launch the Orion spacecraft and crew to the Moon under Artemis. Prior to joining the HLS Program, Chojnacki served in positions of increasing responsibility for the SLS Program as the deputy chief engineer and associate manager for the SLS Stages Office and lead of the exploration upper stage.
He joined NASA Marshall in 2000 as an aerospace engineer in the Vehicle Systems Development Department, performing systems engineering and integration on large development programs such as Gravity Probe B and the X-34 and X-43C demonstrator vehicles. From 2007 to 2011, he was the main propulsion system subsystem manager, integrated product team lead, and stage definition manager of the Ares Upper Stage Project.
His honors include an Exceptional Service Award.
Chojnacki earned a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and master’s and doctorate in mechanical engineering, both from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Biography last updated March 2025
