NASA Centers of Excellence

NASA’s programs are implemented through its nine Centers and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the programs, NASA has defined the roles and responsibilities for each Center. To reduce overlap and streamline programmatic functions, NASA has established areas of excellence for each Center. Agency management, which primarily resides at NASA Headquarters, is responsible for leadership and management across the Strategic Enterprises as well as the development of strategy ("what, why, and for whom").

Each Center of Excellence represents a focused, Agency-wide leadership responsibility in a specific area of technology or knowledge. Centers of Excellence are chartered with a clear definition of their capabilities and boundaries. They are charged to be preeminent within the Agency, if not worldwide, with respect to the human resources, facilities, and other critical capabilities associated with the particular area of excellence. Each Center of Excellence must maintain or increase the Agency's preeminent position in the assigned area in line with the program requirements of the Strategic Enterprises and the long-term interests of the Agency. The capabilities to support a Center of Excellence can be distributed across multiple Centers. These capabilities are available to all of the Strategic Enterprises.

NASA Centers of Excellence