ASQ Section 1131 October Meeting

"Managing Quality at a Research Center"

Melvin Freebee

Deputy Director

Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate

NASA Langley Research Center

Melvin Ferebee is the Deputy Director of the Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA. He is also the Lead for Participatory Exploration at the Center and the lead for the Center’s Eleven Revolutionary Technical Challenges.  He has been engaged in all levels of research and development ranging from the conceptual designs of the Space Station, to framing the vision for the United States Space Exploration policy to being a member of the Space Shuttle Program Office and the Ares I-X Developmental Flight Program.  He has authored or co-authored more than 40 technical articles and presented to over 100 audiences.

At a government installation with a portfolio containing fundamental research, prototyping, testing and full-blown development of flight systems, managing quality is as varied as the activities that require it. The activity could be the development of new materials, the construction of flight experiments or the construction of instruments for satellites, the space Station of the space Shuttle.  Melvin will describe how Langley’s safety and mission assurance team ensures that the products the Center deliver are the best for their specific applications.