Gregory W. Heckler is a senior leader in NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program, serving as Deputy Program Manager for Capability Development. He is responsible for modernizing NASA’s communications and navigation infrastructure to enable human and robotic exploration in Earth orbit, at the Moon, on Mars, and into deep space. In this role, Greg oversees the planning and execution of key projects that enhance government and commercial capabilities, ensuring that flagship missions such as Artemis have access to robust, high-bandwidth networks and precise navigation services.
Greg previously led NASA’s strategy to transition near-Earth missions from government-owned infrastructure to commercially provided communications and navigation services. He also played a key role in shaping national policy, supporting the Executive Office of the President in developing the first National Cislunar Science and Technology Strategy, where he directed interagency efforts to produce the plan for Scalable Communications and Navigation.
Greg’s leadership at NASA Headquarters is grounded in over two decades of technical experience. He began his NASA career in 2006 as a telecommunications systems engineer at Goddard Space Flight Center, where he helped develop the Navigator spaceflight GPS receiver and supported its first flight aboard Space Shuttle mission STS-125 in 2009. He went on to serve as Deputy Telecommunications Systems Manager and Payload Manager for the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) Project, overseeing the development, launch, and operational deployment of three TDRS satellites.
A native of Ohio and Indiana, Greg holds both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University.