On October 13, 2026, NASA announced that astronaut and engineer Christina Koch will assume the position of acting deputy chief engineer starting November 1, following the retirement of Katherine Van Hooser scheduled for October 21.
In this role, Koch will lead NASA’s engineering community, oversee mission preparations, and ensure the technical excellence of the agency’s programs and projects. This appointment also marks her transition into a managerial status, meaning she will no longer be eligible for future space missions.
Christina Koch is recognized for her dual experience: she has developed complex systems on the ground and has lived in real conditions in space. Notably, she spent 328 consecutive days aboard the International Space Station, setting a record for a woman, and participated in the Artemis II mission in 2026, the first crewed flight around the Moon in over 50 years.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised her technical expertise, operational experience, and judgment, highlighting her key role in the agency’s lunar and Martian ambitions. Amit Kshatriya, NASA Associate Administrator and Chief Engineer, also expressed confidence in Koch’s ability to continue the technical excellence established by her predecessor.
