posted 01-16-2006 11:57 PM               

Richard Covey Named USA Chief Operating Officer

Veteran astronaut and space industry executive Richard O. Covey has been named to replace Brewster H. Shaw as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of United Space Alliance (USA). Shaw has returned to Boeing after two and a half years as USA COO to lead Boeing NASA Systems as Vice President and General Manager. Covey will report to USA President and CEO Michael J. McCulley.

As co-chairman of NASA's Return-to-Flight Task Group, Covey played a critical leadership role in the exhaustive independent assessment of agency actions in response to the Columbia Accident Investigation Board recommendations.

"We are extremely fortunate to have Dick on the team. He brings the right management skills and experience to help us achieve the highest levels of safety and mission assurance possible," said McCulley. "And there is nobody better suited to join the United Space Alliance leadership team as we transition our company from ongoing Shuttle and Space Station operations to future Exploration programs."

Covey joins USA from The Boeing Company where he served as President of Boeing Service Company in Colorado Springs, Colorado, providing system engineering, facility/system maintenance and operations, spacecraft operations support, and logistics support to Department of Defense, other US government, and commercial businesses at over 20 locations worldwide.

Before moving to Boeing Service Company, Covey was vice president of Boeing Houston Operations, and responsible for business development, program management and support for Boeing programs in Houston. Covey joined The Boeing Company as division director for McDonnell Douglas' Houston Operations in 1996.

A former astronaut, Covey is a veteran of four Space Shuttle missions flown during his distinguished 16-year career with NASA. In December 1993, he commanded the highly acclaimed flight of Endeavour to service and repair the Hubble Space Telescope. For this mission, his crew received both the National Space Club's Goddard Trophy and the National Aeronautic Association Collier Trophy. His other space flights included a classified Department of Defense mission in 1990, the first flight of Discovery after the Challenger accident in 1988, and another spacecraft repair mission in 1985. In addition to his flight duties, Covey held key management positions in the Astronaut Office and Flight Crew Operations Directorate at the Johnson Space Center.

Prior to joining NASA, Covey was the US Air Force Joint Test Force Director for F-15 electronic warfare systems developmental and production verification testing at Eglin Air Force Base, FL. He is a highly decorated combat pilot and is a graduate of the Air Force Test Pilot School. His honors include two Defense Distinguished Services Medals, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and five Distinguished Flying Crosses, including four received during the 339 combat missions he flew over Southeast Asia.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in engineering sciences from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1968 and a Masters of Science degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Purdue University in 1969.

United Space Alliance, established in 1995, is a leader in space operations offering extensive experience in space launch and recovery operations; mission planning and control; flight hardware processing; space flight training; on-orbit assembly, payload deployment and servicing; rendezvous/proximity operations and docking; large-scale integration and sustaining engineering. United Space Alliance serves as NASA's prime contractor for the Space Shuttle and provides operations services for the International Space Station. United Space Alliance employs more than 10,000 people in Texas, Florida, and Alabama.

posted 08-30-2007 10:35 AM               

Richard Covey to Succeed McCulley as USA President & CEO

Shuttle Veteran Daniel Brandenstein Named Chief Operating Officer

Richard O. Covey has been named to succeed Michael J. McCulley as President and Chief Executive Officer of United Space Alliance, effective September 28, 2007. McCulley has announced his retirement following a distinguished career spanning 38 years as a Naval aviator, NASA astronaut and a highly respected space industry executive. Daniel C. Brandenstein of Lockheed Martin Mission Services has been named to replace Covey as USA's Chief Operating Officer.

"Mike will be greatly missed," said Covey, who has served as USA's COO since February 2006. "His special brand of leadership has served our company and our customers immeasurably over the past twelve years. In particular, his leadership during and following the Columbia accident made a significant impact on the return of the Space Shuttle to safe and successful flight. We owe him our gratitude, and wish him the very best."

Covey joined USA after serving as President of Boeing Service Company in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he was responsible for overseeing systems engineering, facility/system maintenance and operations, spacecraft operations support, and logistics support to Department of Defense, other U.S. government, and commercial businesses at over 20 locations worldwide.

From 2003 to 2005, Covey provided critical leadership as co-chairman of the Return-to-Flight Task Group conducting an independent assessment of NASA's response to the Columbia Accident Investigation Board recommendations. For this, he was awarded the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal.

A former NASA astronaut, Covey piloted STS 51-I, a spacecraft repair mission in 1985 and STS-26, the first flight of Discovery after the Challenger accident in 1988. He then commanded STS-38, a classified Department of Defense mission in 1990, and the flight of Endeavour on STS-61 in 1993 to service and repair the Hubble Space Telescope.

Prior to joining NASA, Covey served in the US Air Force as a test force director, test pilot and operational fighter pilot. His honors include two Defense Distinguished Service Medals, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and five Distinguished Flying Crosses, including four received during the 339 combat missions he flew over Southeast Asia.

Brandenstein will join USA from Lockheed Martin Mission Services where he serves as Vice President and Program Manager for the Mission Support Operations Contract at the NASA/Johnson Space Center.

"The addition of Dan to our executive team brings a level of operations and leadership experience that will benefit us greatly as we work to complete the mission of the Space Shuttle and to position USA for the future," said Covey.

Also a former astronaut, Brandenstein piloted Space Shuttle mission STS-8 in 1983 aboard Challenger on the first shuttle night launch and landing mission. He commanded three others, including STS-51G in 1985, STS-32 in 1990, and the maiden flight of Endeavour, STS-49, in 1992 to retrieve and repair the Intelsat satellite. He also served as chief of the Astronaut Office from 1987 until leaving NASA and the Navy in 1992.

Prior to joining NASA, Brandenstein served as a Naval aviator starting in 1967. From 1968-1970 he participated in two carrier combat deployments in Southeast Asia and flew 192 combat missions in A- 6 Intruders. His many honors include 2 Defense Superior Service Medals, the Distinguished Flying Cross, 2 NASA Distinguished Service Medals and 2 NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals.

United Space Alliance is a world leader in space operations with extensive experience in all aspects of the field. Headquartered in Houston and employing 10,000 people in Texas, Florida and Alabama, USA is applying its broad range of capabilities to NASA's Space Shuttle, International Space Station and Constellation programs as well as to space operations customers in the commercial and international space industry sectors.

posted 03-05-2010 03:53 PM               

Richard O. Covey to Retire as USA President & CEO

Richard O. Covey today announced his intentions to retire as President and Chief Executive Officer of United Space Alliance, effective March 26, 2010. Covey is retiring following a distinguished career spanning more than 40 years as an Air Force fighter pilot, NASA astronaut and a highly respected space industry executive.

A replacement has not yet been named.

"Being part of the United Space Alliance team for the past four years, first as COO and then CEO, has been one of the highlights of my career," Covey said. "I am proud to be associated with such a dedicated and talented group of professionals. I will be watching with great pride and interest as the team completes the remaining Shuttle missions and transitions to a new era of space flight."

Covey joined USA in 2006 as Chief Operating Officer after serving as President of Boeing Service Company in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He became USA's President and CEO in September 2007.

From 2003 to 2005, Covey provided critical leadership as co-chairman of the Return-to-Flight Task Group conducting an independent assessment of NASA's response to the Columbia Accident Investigation Board recommendations. For this, he was awarded the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal.

A former NASA astronaut, Covey piloted STS 51-I, a spacecraft repair mission in 1985 and STS-26, the first flight of Discovery after the Challenger accident in 1988. He then commanded STS-38, a classified Department of Defense mission in 1990, and the flight of Endeavour on STS-61 in 1993 to service and repair the Hubble Space Telescope.

Prior to joining NASA, Covey served in the US Air Force as a test force director, test pilot and operational fighter pilot. His honors include two Defense Distinguished Service Medals, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and five Distinguished Flying Crosses, including four received during the 339 combat missions he flew over Southeast Asia.

"Dick has made numerous contributions to USA and to the entire human space flight industry," said USA Chief Operating Officer Dan Brandenstein. "His steady leadership has made a tremendous impact on the aerospace community and he will be greatly missed. We wish him the very best."

United Space Alliance is a world leader in space operations with extensive experience in all aspects of the field. Headquartered in Houston, USA has more than 8,000 employees working in Texas, Florida and Alabama. Currently, USA is applying its broad range of capabilities to NASA's Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs as well as to space operations customers in the commercial and international space industry sectors.