Dr. Litchford currently serves as the Principal Technologist for Propulsion for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. As Principal Technologist, he is responsible for the agency’s space propulsion technology investment strategy aimed at the establishment of space transportation capabilities that will enable future NASA space mission goals and promote commercial space expansion and economic growth. He received a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Tennessee Technological University in 1987 and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical & aerospace engineering from the University of Tennessee Space Institute in 1989 and 1992, respectively. His professional experiences broadly encompass aerospace propulsion & power systems and advanced energy applications. This includes 2 years (1987-1989) as a NASA Graduate Research Fellow; 5 years (1989-1994) as a Research Engineer with the UT-Calspan Center for Space Transportation and Applied Research, a NASA Center for the Commercial Development of Space; 5 years (1994-1999) as Advanced Projects Manager within the R&D Division of ERC Inc., an aerospace engineering and research service company; and 26 years (1999-2025) within NASA devoted to research and technology development for launch and in-space vehicle systems.