NASA has officially announced the retirement of Jim Free, the agency's esteemed associate administrator, on Wednesday, February 19. In a heartfelt statement, NASA expressed gratitude for Free's remarkable dedication and service spanning over three decades.
Free's official retirement date is set for Saturday, February 22. His illustrious career at NASA has seen him manage and oversee a workforce of 18,000 employees across the agency's ten centers nationwide. His leadership and commitment have been instrumental in driving NASA's mission forward.
"It has been an honor to serve NASA and walk alongside the workforce that tackles the most difficult engineering challenges, pursues new scientific knowledge in our universe and beyond, develops technologies for future exploration endeavors, all while prioritizing safety every day for people on the ground, in the air, and in space," Free stated in his farewell message.
Jim Free hails from Ohio, where he began his journey by earning an aeronautics degree from Miami University in Oxford. He furthered his education with a master's in space systems engineering from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. Free's career at NASA commenced in 1990 at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, where he contributed to data-relay satellite projects.
Free later returned to his home state to work at the Glenn Research Center, supporting the development of the Orion spacecraft. Following a brief stint at Johnson Space Center in Houston in 2008, he returned to Glenn as the chief of the Space Flight Systems Directorate in 2009. His leadership journey continued as he was promoted to deputy center director in 2010 and served as the director of the center from 2013 to 2016.
In March 2016, Free was appointed deputy associate administrator for Technical in the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. He assumed the role of associate administrator in January 2024, contributing significantly to NASA's mission and goals.
Recently, Free has served as a senior advisor to NASA Acting Administrator Janet Petro. President Trump selected Petro to lead the agency until a new administrator could be confirmed by Congress. Notably, Trump has nominated billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman as the permanent NASA chief.
"Throughout his career, Jim has been the ultimate servant leader — always putting the mission and the people of NASA first," Petro praised. "A remarkable engineer and a decisive leader, he combines deep technical expertise with an unwavering commitment to this agency’s mission. Jim’s legacy is one of selfless service, steadfast leadership, and a belief in the power of people."
While Free's departure is voluntary, he leaves amid a challenging time for NASA, with up to 1,000 employees facing potential dismissal. This development follows the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's directive to identify employees on probationary periods across federal agencies, including NASA, to prepare for potential layoffs.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the NASA family and contribute to the agency’s mission for the benefit of humanity," Free expressed in his farewell statement, reflecting his dedication and passion for NASA's mission.
