Release No. 00-86

Laurel resident Arthur F. Obenschain has been named Director of the Applied Engineering and Technology Directorate at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. In this post, Obenschain will manage one of the Center’s largest organizations – comprised of some 1,500 engineers and technologists – who build some of the world’s most sophisticated spacecraft and spacecraft systems, and conduct leading edge research in new technologies revolutionizing Earth and space science exploration.

Obsenshain was born in Washington, D.C., and was raised and has lived in Maryland all his life. He grew up in Silver Spring, graduating from Northwood High School in June 1961, and earned his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland in January 1966.

Obenschain began his career with NASA at the Goddard Space Flight Center in the early 1960's as a summer engineering aide, accepting a full-time position in the power systems development area in 1966 upon his graduation. He has worked almost exclusively on hardware development projects since 1966, with emphasis in electrical systems.

In 1982, after serving five years as a supervisor in the GSFC Engineering Directorate, Obenschain assumed the position of Observatory Manager for the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory. One of NASA’s Great Observatories, the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory was the first spacecraft to map the gamma ray universe, and was responsible many discoveries before it was de-orbited into the Pacific Ocean on June 4, 2000.

Obenschain worked in private industry as a Program Manager for an aerospace company, but returned to NASA in 1988 as the Deputy Project Manager for Goddard’s Space Station Freedom Development Project.

In October 1989, he was appointed Project Manager for the Earth Observing System Platforms Project, a position he maintained until his selection as the Geostationary Observation Environmental Satellite (GOES) Project Manager. With the successful launch and in-orbit checkout of GOES-8, Obenschain transferred to the Landsat Project.

He was appointed to the position of Project Manager in September 1994 with the transfer of Landsat-7 from the Department of Defense. In December 1996, he was appointed Project Manager of the Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Project, a position he held until October 1998 when he assumed responsibility for the leadership of the Electrical Systems Center within the Applied Engineering and Technology Directorate. He was named Deputy Director of the Directorate in October 1999 and served in that position until being named its Director.

He is the recipient of the NASA's Exceptional Service Medal, Outstanding Leadership Medal, and Goddard's Award of Merit. He is the 1995 recipient of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) von Braun Award for Excellence in Space Program Management.

He is married to the former Georgina Adams and they have two grown sons. They have lived in Laurel since 1971. His hobbies include boating, old-time movies and radio, and all forms of auto racing.