Emilio A. Cruz
NASA Science ·
Emilio A. Cruz serves as the deputy director of Exploration Research and Technology Programs (ER&T) at NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. ER&T Programs at the spaceport lead planning and execution of all International Space Station ground processing, payload integration, and research support while managing NASA Kennedy’s broader research and technology portfolio. The […] The post Emilio A. Cruz appeared first on NASA Science .
Deputy Director, Exploration Research and Technology Programs
Emilio A. Cruz serves as the deputy director of Exploration Research and Technology Programs (ER&T) at NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. ER&T Programs at the spaceport lead planning and execution of all International Space Station ground processing, payload integration, and research support while managing NASA Kennedy’s broader research and technology portfolio. The organization provides strategic leadership, technical expertise, and program management across space station, exploration, and technology development activities. ER&T also supports Gateway and Human Landing System, oversees Kennedy’s Space Systems Processing Facility utilization, and integrates small‑payload processing.
Cruz began his NASA career in 1991 at the agency’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, where he served as an engineer and project manager leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering complex facility systems ranging from small‑scale projects to multi‑million‑dollar developments. He also contributed extensively to organizational leadership through source evaluation committees, safety initiatives, and advisory councils focused on strategic planning.
He first arrived at NASA Kennedy in 1999 as a flight systems test engineer supporting Expendable Launch Vehicle campaigns, ensuring mission‑critical contamination issues were resolved. He subsequently assumed roles as program integration manager and contracting officer’s technical representative for major launch services contracts, followed by leadership positions including acting program business office chief and chief of the Flight Projects Support Branch.
As chief of the Mechanical Division, Cruz guided more than 120 engineers in delivering structural and mechanical systems expertise for a wide range of programs and customers. He subsequently served as deputy chief for the Flight Projects, Technical Performance, and Integration Division, enabling a unified technical interface for engineering customers and ensuring alignment of resources with mission needs. Cruz also served as acting associate director of Engineering, supporting the management of the center’s civil service and contractor engineering workforce and advancing NASA Kennedy’s engineering capabilities across multiple programs and projects. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a consistent ability to lead complex technical organizations, strengthen mission integration, and foster workforce excellence.
Cruz has a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from University of Miami in Florida, and a Master of Science in industrial engineering from the Cleveland State University in Ohio.
Biography last updated October 2026
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