Contact
Email: charles.e.harris@nasa.gov
Charlie Harris, director of the Research Directorate of the NASA Langley Research Center, provides strategic leadership in the technical areas of aerosciences, airborne systems, materials, and structures in support of the NASA missions in space operations, exploration, and aeronautics.
Dr. Harris holds a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering, a masters of science degree and doctorate degree in engineering mechanics – all from Virginia Tech. His subject matter expertise is in structural integrity with an emphasis on advanced materials.
At NASA Langley since 1987, Dr. Harris’ responsibilities have continued to increase. He began as the head of the mechanics of materials branch, and beginning in 1991, he simultaneously managed NASA’s Aging Aircraft Program until 1997. In 1997 he was named NASA’s Chief Technologist for the Structures and Materials Center of Excellence. In 2000, Dr. Harris was promoted to the deputy directorship of Langley’s Structures and Materials Competency. After the Columbia space shuttle accident, Dr Harris became a principal engineer in NASA’s Engineering and Safety Center where he resolved safety issues that allowed the space shuttle to return to flight and complete the manifest to assemble the international space station.
Today, Dr. Harris leads some 800 scientists, engineers, and technicians working in 21 disciplinary research branches at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. He also had prior experience in industry and academia before joining NASA in 1987.
Dr. Harris served as the technical editor of the international research journal Experimental Mechanics and also served two terms on the NRC sponsored U.S. National Committee on Theoretical and Applied Mechanics.