Glenn Research Center

• 1. Origins And Naming History

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  The Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory opened its doors in June 1940 with funding approval. This facility became part of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics when it officially established operations in 1942. George W. Lewis led NACA from 1919 to 1947 and lent his name to the institution as the Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory in 1948. The center adopted its current title on the 1st of March 1999 after honoring John Glenn. He was a fighter pilot who became the first American to orbit Earth before serving as a politician. James A. Kenyon currently serves as director of this NASA center located between Brook Park and Cleveland.

• 2. Major Test Facilities

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  Plum Brook Station sits about 35 miles from the main campus near Sandusky in southern Erie County. The Plum Brook Reactor required decontamination under a contract valued at more than $33.5 million completed in 2008. U.S. senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown proposed renaming the station after Neil Armstrong in 2019. Legislation signed the 30th of December 2020 officially changed the name to the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility. The Space Power Facility houses the world's largest space environment vacuum chamber capable of testing full-scale upper-stage launch vehicles. An aluminum vacuum chamber measuring 30 feet in diameter and 400 feet high fits within a concrete shaft extending 400 feet below ground level. Pressure inside this chamber reduces to 13.3 newtons per square meter before experiments begin.

• 3. Propulsion Technology Breakthroughs

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  Researchers studied combustion processes in liquid rocket engines as early as 1951 at the LFPL facility. Wernher von Braun called the liquid hydrogen rocket engine critical technology enabling Apollo Moon landings. The Centaur upper-stage rocket emerged from Glenn Research Center development efforts alongside other major systems. A gridded ion thruster provided high-efficiency propulsion for the Deep Space 1 probe launched by NASA. The Electrical Power System designed for Space Station Freedom now operates on the International Space Station with slight modifications. These innovations support air-breathing propulsion and cryogenic fluids management across multiple mission types. The center continues developing power storage and conversion technologies for extreme environments.

• 4. Aeronautics Innovations

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  The icing Research Tunnel simulates atmospheric conditions to test ice accretion effects on aircraft wings. Chevron designs developed by Glenn appear on commercial jet engines including those powering Boeing 787 Dreamliners today. Engineers produce jet engine designs that reduce energy consumption while lowering pollution levels. Noise reduction chevrons help quiet modern aircraft operations through specialized engineering solutions. The NASA Electric Aircraft Testbed supports ongoing research into electric propulsion systems. These developments align with broader goals of reducing environmental impact from aviation activities. Researchers work closely with industry partners to implement these technologies in real-world applications.

• 5. Leadership And Administration

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  Edward R. Sharp served as manager starting May 1942 before becoming director in June 1947. Eugene J. Manganiello held the position from the 1st of January 1961 until the 31st of October 1961. Abe Silverstein led the facility from the 1st of November 1961 through the 31st of October 1969. Bruce T. Lundin directed operations between the 1st of November 1969 and the 26th of August 1977. Bernard Lubarsky acted as director from the 27th of August 1977 to the 30th of September 1978. John F. McCarthy Jr. managed the center from the 1st of October 1978 until the 21st of June 1982. Andrew J. Stofan served briefly from the 22nd of June 1982 to the 29th of June 1986. John M. Klineberg took over on the 30th of June 1986 and left the 28th of May 1987. Lawrence J. Ross directed from the 1st of July 1990 to the 28th of February 1994. Donald J. Campbell served from the 1st of March 1994 until the 30th of September 2003. Julian M. Earls held office from the 1st of October 2003 to the 25th of December 2005. Woodrow Whitlow Jr. began his term the 25th of December 2005 and ended in February 2010. Ramon Lugo III served from the 1st of March 2010 through the 17th of July 2010. James M. Free led from the 4th of January 2013 to the 13th of March 2016. Janet L. Kavandi managed operations from the 14th of March 2016 until the 31st of September 2019. Marla E. Perez-Davis acted as director from the 1st of October 2019 to the 23rd of January 2020. James A. Kenyon has served since the 7th of November 2022.

• 6. Public Engagement And Education

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  The Lewis Educational and Research Collaborative Internship Program provides eight-week internships for high school sophomores and juniors. College students participate in ten-week programs open to all levels nationwide while high school slots remain Cleveland-area restricted. Teachers join the program through a separate ten-week internship track focused on STEM education. Teams compete annually in the Dropping In Microgravity Environment contest by writing experiment proposals for the Drop Tower. Winners travel to the center to perform experiments and submit research reports directly to NASA. The Glenn Visitor Center closed its doors in September 2009 before relocating displays to the Great Lakes Science Center. That facility drew 330,000 visitors during its first year compared to just 60,000 at the original site. Public tours occur monthly on the first Saturday with advance reservations required for access.