Scott Colloredo

Scott Colloredo is the director of the Engineering Directorate at NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. As director, he leads activities associated with all engineering products and services for several agency programs, including multi-discipline spaceflight and ground support systems across all Kennedy programs. Colloredo ensures engineering rigor and excellence in product development and delivery for programmatic, project, and center customers, including the International Space Station, Launch Services Program, Commercial Crew Program, Exploration Ground Systems Program, and various Research & Technology projects.

Experience

Prior to being appointed as director, Colloredo served as the deputy director of the Engineering Directorate. In that role, he spearheaded a major reorganization that realigned engineering with program and center customers. Colloredo also implemented the Engineering Strategic Planning process which creates initiatives that improve engineering’s performance across processes, products, and people. As deputy director, Colloredo particularly focused on the construction of facilities, development, led the Suborbital Crew project startup for the Commercial Crew Program, and established the Thermal Protection System innovation center at Kennedy. In addition to all of this, Colloredo served as an executive champion of the Leadership for the Future initiative and founded the Seniors Leading Vital Roles Employee Resource Group, all while instituting a host of initiatives that bolster the Engineering workforce morale across the 600-employee organization.

Prior to his appointment to the senior executive service, Colloredo was the director of the Center Planning and Development Directorate, leading the implementation of Kennedy’s Master Plan and the transformation of the center from a government-only to a multi-user spaceport. In this role, he ensured the effective use and development of the center’s land, facilities, and technical capabilities in support of government and commercial launch activities. Colloredo’s center land use planning, development of spaceport infrastructure, and business strategies established the foundation for today’s environment of commercial, academic, and inter-government partnerships.

Previously, Colloredo also served as chief architect for Kennedy’s Ground Systems Development and Operations Program and led the development of the 21st Century Space Launch Complex initiative. He was responsible for the conceptual design of aligning major center assets with the center’s capabilities to meet the needs of NASA programs, commercial customers, and Department of Defense users. He spearheaded concepts such as Kennedy’s “clean pad” multi-use concept, and advocated for the center’s launch sites to be flexible, evolvable, and capable of supporting any future multi-use.

As a project manager, Colloredo led the development of the International Space Station ground support equipment that provided access, handling, servicing, and simulation capabilities to assemble and process space station elements.

Colloredo began his career as a NASA co-op student in 1986 in the launch accessories branch of Kennedy’s Engineering Development Directorate. During his first 10 years with NASA, he worked as a design engineer, systems engineer, and as a lead designer for ground support equipment for the Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs.

Awards

NASA has rewarded Colloredo’s service with several distinguished awards, including the Presidential Rank Award, NASA’s Exceptional Achievement Medal, Kennedy’s Center Director Award and Certificate of Commendation, and several Kennedy Group Achievement Awards.

Education

Colloredo graduated from Christian Brothers High School in Memphis in 1984. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1989 and a Master of Science in engineering management from the University of Central Florida in Orlando in 1994.

Personal

One of six brothers, Colloredo resides in Cocoa Beach, Florida, with his wife and has two children.

Biography last updated August 2024