Steve Cook

Stephen Cook currently serves as the President of the Dynetics Group for Leidos. The Group is the corporation's innovation engine for technology acceleration while providing broad coverage to design and build hardware across all domains. It is comprised of Dynetics, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, and the Leidos Innovations Center. Cook leads more than 5,000 employees across 20 states. 

Cook joined the company in 2009 as the director of space technologies. He led Dynetics' efforts in launch systems, orbital spacecraft and analysis, planetary exploration, and nanotechnology research until 2013.

Before joining the team, Cook enjoyed a long and successful career at NASA. He served as the deputy manager of NASA's Marshall Space Transportation Programs and Projects Office where he planned and directed research, technology, and development activities for future generations of space transportation. For more ambitious scientific exploration missions of the solar system, he oversaw advanced propulsion systems. Following that, Cook was the manager of the Ares Projects Office at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville from 2005 to 2009. He was responsible for overall project management and direction of NASA's Ares I and V launch vehicles. His significant achievements in this position earned him the Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Award in 2009.

A career full of honors typifies Cook's success and talent. He received the NASA Outstanding Achievement Medal in 1999 for exceptional accomplishments in the area of space transportation. He was awarded a NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 2006 for his outstanding efforts as a member of the Exploration Systems Architecture Study; the Holger Toftoy Award in 2006 from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), recognizing outstanding technical management by a section member in aeronautics and astronautics; and the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal in 2007 for his exemplary management of the Exploration Launch Projects Office. He was named an AIAA fellow in 2016, and was inducted into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame in 2019. He received the National Space Club Community Service Award in 2018.

Cook served his country as a member of the Executive Office of the President NASA Transition Team. Cook currently serves on the Space Transportation Committee of the International Astronautical Federation, as well as the Space Transportation Technical Committee of the AIAA, and he is a member of the Alabama Space Authority. He is a fellow of the University of Alabama Department of Aerospace Engineering, as well as a board member of the University of Alabama Capstone Engineering Society and National Aeronautic Association. Cook also serves as President of the STC Hope Foundation, as an Advocacy Volunteer at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, and as a volunteer pilot for Angel Flight, Mercy Flight, and Operation Airdrop. Previously, he served as a board member for the National Space Club, FIRST Robotics Alabama, and the Industrial Advisory Board for Aerospace Engineering at both the University of Alabama and the University of Minnesota. He also served as School Board President for Athens Bible School.

Cook holds a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering and mechanics from the University of Minnesota. He is certified in federal acquisition. In addition, he has authored over 20 papers on advanced space propulsion and launch systems and was a contributing author of the 1997 McGraw-Hill Aerospace Yearbook.

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