Today I announce my resignation as NASA’s Chief Technology Officer for IT

It is with mixed emotions that today I am announcing my resignation as NASA’s Chief Technology Officer for IT.
I’d like to thank my incredible team and colleagues for all of their support over the past five years, reflect on some of the incredible things we have accomplished together, and let you know how I arrived at this difficult decision.
First, to my team at both NASA Ames Research Center and NASA Headquarters – you deserve all of the credit – and I mean that literally – it has been an incredible honor working with you and watching you all accomplish amazing things – often with little more assistance from me than providing occasional bureaucratic air-cover.  I also owe everything we have accomplished to those who have provided air cover for me.
What an incredible experience the past five years has been.  When I joined NASA, I was in awe of how much potential the organization had to inspire people.  My first role at NASA was helping catalyze public-private partnerships and commercialization of NASA data.   I had the opportunity to help finalize an incredible collaboration with Google that aimed to “Bring Space Exploration Down to Earth” by making vast sums of NASA information accessible in Google Earth… using Space Act authority to ensure taxpayers were not footing the bill.  Microsoft had a new platform called World Wide Telescope, so we launched a collaboration with Microsoft to enrich their platform with NASA data as well.  As CIO of Ames, I had the opportunity to lead the implementation of NASA’s Agency-wide Security Operations Center, launch NASA’s Nebula Cloud Computing project, and host the launch of Apps.gov and the White House cloud computing strategy.  Perhaps the most exciting experience was working with the Space Operations Mission Directorate on an “astronaut manual” to take Photosynth images of the International Space Station.   And there are dozens of other experiences of which I am incredibly proud.
Deciding to leave NASA has not been easy, and is something I’ve been struggling with for the past few months.  About a month ago, I mentioned to one of my mentors that “it’s a very difficult time to be an entrepreneur at NASA.”  She responded “is it ever a good time to be an entrepreneur at NASA?” Reflecting on this, I realized that most of my accomplishments at NASA were not at Headquarters, but out in the field where I could roll up my sleeves and work on projects and get stuff done.  Whereas I thought I had the best of both worlds being a Headquarters employee stationed in Silicon Valley, I actually had the worst of both worlds… no influence when I can’t be in all of those meetings at NASA HQ, with no mandate to manage projects at Ames. As budgets kept getting cut and continuing resolutions from Congress continued to make funding unavailable, I saw my vision for the future slowly slip further from my grasp. 
So, today, I am announcing that I am leaving the place I dreamed of working as a kid to find a garage in Palo Alto to do what I love.
I hope that our efforts to ensure a more open, collaborative and efficient NASA persist through the many great people, projects, and organizations that I will miss more than I can possibly express here. Thank you all for an incredible five years together. 

11 thoughts on “Today I announce my resignation as NASA’s Chief Technology Officer for IT”

  1. Very sad to see you go Chris. I hope the legacy you started continues within NASA and the federal government.

  2. Thank you for your service… do believe that it has made a positive impact on the work we do here at NASA.
    That said, we need to recognize that technological dreamers and doers require an extraordinary amount of charisma and the energy to make it all happen. It is not easy on the mind or body, and even the best of us will need to recharge. Best of luck, Chris!

  3. Thank you.

    Now – on to the big, real, fun world…ok – just big possibly in some realms anyway.

    Here’s an idea for you to ponder….called “Thunderstorm”….it is media controlled cloud computing. It’s Facebook without regulations – audio, video, data – all within your fingertips at a moments notice. YOU control this “thunderstorm” and take it with you….it’s simply just there to be accessed whenever so desired….videos – music – data – owned and operated with YOU in mind….

    Take are…and good luck~

  4. Chris, You were a great partner and you will be missed, but your impact I am sure will remain. Projects like WWT|Mars will still be inspiring kids and researchers alike for years. Many more projects will move ahead on the infrastructure you pioneered. The best of luck to you and I can’t wait to see what you bring out of that garage when you emerge.

    Jonathan Fay
    Principal Architect
    Microsoft Research WorldWide Telescope

  5. Chris,

    Sorry to hear you are leaving, but happy for you at the same time. You have made quite a positive impact in NASA in a very short time, and have set a great example of many of us who work in and with the Federal government.

    God speed you on your next adventure!

  6. Having been there myself, I can understand your decision. Best of luck Chris, I’ll miss seeing you in DC but look forward to visiting your garage 🙂

  7. Chris,

    Thanks for all your great work at NASA. It’s good to see so much cloud computing activity there, and we are proud that you picked Eucalyptus to power the USAspending.gov site. All the best in your new endeavors. Looking forward to our paths crossing again.

    Marten

  8. I hear Palo Alto garages are great places for entrepreneurial visionaries. Godbless, and Godspeed!

  9. You will be dearly missed.I looked up to you for inspiration and enthusiasm to achieve so much in such little time.

    I had hoped to work with you at AMES research center.
    I guess that’s too far fetched now.

    Thanks for everything and good luck.

  10. Chris,
    Thank you for your great work at NASA and for our wonderful Country. Best of luck to you in your future endevers. You have provided great leadership in implementing new technology for our Country. Art Chantker

  11. Well Chris, I am sorry to see you leave. If you are not familiar with me, I am the Center Records Manager for Ames, I met you once, seen you plenty of time at N200. I have not had the pleasure of working with you in your organization, although I tried getting there many times. I know you’ll put your stamp on something else great! God Bless you on what adventures awaits you!

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