Michael Lutomski is an engineer and project manager who has spent over 33 years working on human spaceflight programs at NASA and in private industry. This included time as the Risk Manager for the International Space Station and Director of Risk Management at SpaceX. He is a frequently requested speaker and moderator on topics of Risk Management, Safety, Reliability, Sustainability, and Human Space Exploration. He speaks frequently at international conferences, schools, and professional societies.
Current Work
Michael supports numerous education programs for students and educators at all levels. He is a strong advocate for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and has spent decades inspiring the next generation of explorers.
Previous Experience
Space Exploration: Michael has spent over 33 years working on human spaceflight programs at NASA and in private industry. He has worked in the areas of program management, operations, engineering, risk management, safety, and reliability.
Michael started his career as a flight controller working the Mission Control Center in Houston. In the mid-90's Michael spent two years working in NASA's Moscow, Russia office where he worked in the Mission Control Center developing infrastructure for the International Space Station operations.
Michael spent 10 years as the Risk Manager for the International Space Station. As the Risk Manager he was responsible for defining and implementing the qualitative as well as quantitative risk management processes across the program.
Michael retired from NASA in 2013 and joined Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, where he was Director of Risk Management, System Safety, and Reliability for six years.
While working for Elon Musk at SpaceX, he built a safety and reliability organization and established new core processes to ensure safe and reliable spaceflight. He helped the company obtain certification for not only US Air Force launches, but for future crewed flights to the International Space Station for NASA's astronauts.
Education: Michael currently holds Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan and a Master of Business Administration at the University of Houston.
Talking Points
Balancing Risk and Innovation on the way to the Moon & Mars
Mr. Lutomski will share his experience from over 30 years in human spaceflight programs at NASA and SpaceX and other organizations on how to balance the balancing of risk and innovation.
Balancing Risk and Innovation on the way to the Moon & Mars
Ensuring a Safe Outcome when Operating in a High Risk Environment
NASA and SpaceX, like all organizations, have experienced major mishaps and anomalies. How do you ensure a safe and successful operations while operating in a high risk environment?
Ensuring a Safe Outcome when Operating in a High Risk Environment
Sustainability and Lessons from Living and Working in Space
Humans have been permanently living off the surface of the earth now for almost to 20 years. What have we learned in the time about our planet, climate change, and how we can live in a sustainable fashion.
Sustainability and Lessons from Living and Working in Space
