Ken Reightler is currently a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the United States Naval Academy. He teaches a variety of courses in both the Aerospace Engineering Department and Department of Leadership, Ethics, as well as advising and mentoring Capstone Design Teams.

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Prior to joining the USNA faculty in August 2012, he was Vice President, Engineering Services, for ATK Spacecraft Systems & Services, Beltsville MD., now a part of Northrup Grumman. Previously, Reightler spent fifteen years as an executive with Lockheed Martin serving in a variety of senior leadership roles.  His positions included President, Lockheed Martin Space Operations; and Vice President, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company.

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Reightler is a former NASA astronaut, and pilot of two successful space shuttle missions including STS-60, the first U.S./Russian Joint Space Mission, and STS-48, NASA’s first shuttle mission as a part of “Mission To Planet Earth.”  He also held a number of senior management positions in the astronaut office at the Johnson Space Center including Branch Chief of both the Space Station and Mission Support Branches.  Prior to joining NASA, he was the Chief Flight Instructor of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. He also has a strong defense background serving as a Naval Aviator in both land and carrier-based assignments.  He is a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and served two tours at the Naval Air Test Center (now called Naval Air Warfare Center) as a test pilot, project officer, and flight test instructor pilot.

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Reightler holds a BSAE degree with distinction from the U.S Naval Academy, a MSAE degree from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, and a MSSM degree from the University of Southern California. Reightler is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, and a life-member of the Association of Space Explorers and the American Astronautical Society.