Liebrecht, Philip - Biography

The Mission Services Program is comprised of four projects and offices including the Customer Commitment Office, and the Space Network, Ground Network, and Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) Projects. It is staffed with approximately 50 civil servants from the Flight Projects Directorate supported with a larger cadre of matrixed discipline specialists and engineers from other GSFC organizations. They, together with over a thousand contractor personnel manage the planning, implementation and operation of end-to-end networks and space operations architectures for GSFC and NASA including the development of the TDRS spacecraft. The Program is also leading the study of the MARS Optical communications Demonstration Project planned to provide the first optical communications from deep space and leads technology development for near earth space communications and tracking. Mission support provided includes flight mission operations, flight dynamics, science data processing, spectrum management and tracking and data acquisition services for missions supported by the Goddard Space Flight Center. The organization supports national and international scientific and aerospace customers as well and works in partnership with Industry, other Government agencies and International organizations to achieve its mission.

His previous assignments at the GSFC include Chief, Associate Chief, and Assistant Chief, Networks Division; Head, Radio Frequency Systems Section; and Manager, Vandenberg Tracking and TDRS Relay Station Project.

Honors and awards include the NASA Exceptional Service Medal and the GSFC Exceptional Achievement Award.

Mr. Liebrecht is a 1977 graduate from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. He then completed a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland in 1979.

Phil and his wife Carmen reside near Burtonsville, Maryland with their two daughters Alma and Amanda. They encourage and enjoy participating in their daughters' musical and athletic endeavors.