The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has named veteran NASA space shuttle engineer John P. Mulholland its new Space Shuttle vice president and program manager.

With more than more than 21 years of experience in space shuttle propulsion, systems and subsystem design, including 15 years with NASA, Mulholland is responsible for the overall direction and successful execution of Boeing's Space Shuttle program.

"John has the perfect blend of engineering expertise and leadership attributes for the Space Shuttle program," said Brewster Shaw, Boeing Space Exploration vice president and general manager. "His deep understanding of the customer will be vital in completing the remaining shuttle missions and International Space Station (ISS) construction."

It is a busy year for the space shuttle and its new leader with six scheduled launches in 2008.

"The upcoming launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis in February will be a complex assembly mission, and the Boeing shuttle team is poised for success," says Mulholland.

During the 11-day mission, the STS-122 crew will deliver the European Space Agency's Columbus Research Laboratory, and Atlantis will use new microchip technology flow sensors for the first time.

Supporting United Space Alliance, NASA's prime contractor for space shuttle operations, Boeing provides design engineering and support for the shuttle. The space shuttle fleet is scheduled to retire in 2010 after the ISS is assembled to make way for a new human-rated spacecraft that will return humans to the moon by 2020.

Prior to his new position, Mulholland directed Boeing's Orbiter project for nearly two years during which he was responsible for resolving pre- and in-flight space shuttle engineering anomalies and maintaining the fleet's mission readiness. Mulholland joined Boeing in 2002 as the associate program director of Orbiter Vehicle Engineering and was responsible for space shuttle anomaly resolution and sustaining engineering.

He worked at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas, from 1996 to 1999 as a space shuttle vehicle engineering deputy manager of operations and project engineer. Before joining JSC, he worked at NASA's White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico where he was responsible for shuttle propulsion testing and refurbishment.

Mulholland replaces Steve Oswald, Boeing's new vice president and general manager of Intelligence and Security Systems.