Meet Regina Senegal, Acting Chief of Johnson’s Quality and Flight Equipment Division

NASA

by Linda E. Grimm

February 23, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Regina Senegal serves as the acting chief of NASA’s Johnson Space Center’s Quality and Flight Equipment Division within the Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate (SMA). In this role, she oversees a diverse team responsible for ensuring safety and quality across various programs, including the Orion spacecraft, Gateway Program, Human Landing System, and Extravehicular Activity operations. Her division collaborates with multiple organizations to implement agency requirements, monitor the Quality Management System, and ensure hardware, software, and components meet safety standards. This work is crucial for NASA’s missions, as it directly impacts the success and safety of space exploration efforts. Senegal’s journey to NASA began after working seven years as a manufacturing engineer at General Motors. She transitioned to NASA through SAIC, a subcontractor, and has since spent over two decades at Johnson Space Center, becoming a civil servant in 2004. During her career, she has contributed to numerous projects, including the development of crew health equipment for the International Space Station. One of her most memorable experiences was ensuring the transition of hardware from the Space Shuttle Program to support longer missions on the ISS, which required close collaboration with engineers, doctors, and astronauts. As acting chief, Senegal emphasizes the importance of leading teams that address safety, calibration, procurement quality, and the Receiving, Inspection, and Test Facility. Her role involves making challenging decisions regarding mission outcomes, budget allocation, and cultural aspects within her division. This responsibility highlights her commitment to maintaining high standards while navigating complex operational demands. Senegal’s career exemplifies the critical role of quality assurance in space exploration. Her work ensures that NASA’s hardware and systems are reliable and safe, directly contributing to the success of human spaceflight programs. By fostering collaboration and innovation, she demonstrates how essential it is to prioritize safety and quality in achieving ambitious goals like crewed missions to the Moon and beyond.

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Originally published on NASA on 2/23/2026