Mark Polansky
Vice President: Government Services, Human Space Flight Technical Integration Contract

                                                                          Mark Polansky is Vice President: Government Services, HSFTIC for Barrios. As
                                                                          Program Manager and Vice President of the Human Space Flight Technical
                                                                          Integration Contract (HSFTIC), Barrios’ largest contract supporting NASA’s HSF
                                                                          program that encompasses ISS, Orion, Gateway, commercial crew, and commercial
                                                                          LEO initiatives, he has the expertise to guide the company’s Human Space Flight
                                                                          (HSF) focus in the Government Services and commercial space industries.

 

                                                                          He provides executive leadership to the Program and Project Management teams,
                                                                          advises the CEO and President and works closely with the Chief Growth Officer and
                                                                          operational Vice Presidents.

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                                                                          ​​Prior to joining Barrios, Mark spent almost 20 years with NASA as an astronaut and research pilot.  During his tenure at NASA, he supported ISS assembly, logging almost 1,000 hours in space on three shuttle flights. He was Commander of STS-127 in July 2009, Commander of STS-116 in December 2006, and Pilot of STS-98 in February 2001; and has held numerous leadership positions within the Astronaut Office. Mark’s final NASA assignment was as Director of Operations at Star City, Russia, where he lived and worked from January 2010 to June 2012.

Prior to NASA, he spent close to 14 years as a United States Air Force fighter pilot and test pilot. He was a distinguished graduate from both the USAF Test Pilot School and USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training; and has logged more than 7,000 hours of flying in more than 30 different aircraft.

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​Mark holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, and a Master of Science degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University, both received in 1978.

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​He is a recipient of numerous awards including the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and the NASA Space Flight Medal. In addition, he is the recipient of the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters. Mark is a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.

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Mark is passionate about STEM outreach and supports numerous events each year. He also enjoys the theatre, travel, and sports, especially ice hockey.