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Personnel News

Randy Stone

By Keith Cowing
NASA Watch
November 25, 2013
Filed under

Keith’s note: Randy Stone, former Director of MOD, and Deputy Center Director at JSC, died today after a long battle with cancer.
Brock R. Stone
“Mr. Stone’s NASA experience spans Apollo, Apollo-Soyuz, Skylab, Space Shuttle, and International Space Station. He is a 1967 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Aerospace Engineering.”

NASA Watch founder, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA, Away Teams, Journalist, Space & Astrobiology, Lapsed climber.

8 responses to “Randy Stone”

  1. Michael Hieber says:
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    My thoughts and prayers are with Randy’s family. I considered him a friend, a mentor and someone That I always looked up to. He will be missed.

  2. kcowing says:
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    From Jim Van Laak: “Randy was one of the many Apollo era people who made JSC great. Quiet and thoughtful, he did not draw attention to himself. Instead, he was happiest when helping to get a difficult job done well.

    Randy was one of my closest friends and most important allies during my time at JSC. We first met when he was the head of the flight director office and I was one of the most junior members of MOD. He invited me over to show me around, get my views on current issues, and make me feel like a welcome member of the MOD team. That was the hallmark of his leadership style, to strengthen the team by valuing everyone’s input and making them feel empowered.

    During the Shuttle-Mir program we worked together on many problems that arose during that difficult time. Randy did everything in his power to help us with our immediate concerns, but he also looked downstream to see the many ways that the JSC team would need to adapt for the challenges to come.

    Later, when I took over operations for the ISS program, Randy became the foundation on which my world rested. We spent many hours together strategizing and commiserating, building the US team and finding ways to make our international partnership work better. He knew that there were two difficult transitions under way that would test the JSC workforce. Our new close relationship with the Russians was difficult for those who had grown up during the Cold War, and the shift from Shuttle-centered to ISS-centered priorities threatened the established power base.

    These transitions were difficult and painful, and we sometimes found ourselves on opposite sides of issues despite our common goals. Through the worst of it, including when I was stressed and impatient, Randy remained the consummate gentleman. I always knew I could count on his help and support.

    Randy was a good and gentle friend whose counsel and company are sorely missed. But far more importantly, he was a patriot of the first order. He knew where the future lay and had the courage to lead his team toward the goal. His quiet professionalism leaves a legacy that will be felt for many years to come.”

  3. Littrow says:
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    “He invited me over to show me around, get my views on current issues, and make me feel like a welcome member of the MOD team. That was the hallmark of his leadership style, to strengthen the team by valuing everyone’s input and making them feel empowered.”

    This was the way of management once.

  4. dphuntsman says:
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    Sorry to hear about my old flight director’s passing. He was a good guy.
    Dave Huntsman

  5. Earthforce1 says:
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    Thanks for posting this Keith. I also had the pleasure of knowing Randy very well. He was a fighter until the very end. A strong character yet very personable. A great loss.

  6. SkierJim7 says:
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    Randy Stone was my neighbor in Clear Lake City. In a subdivision full of aerospace workers, Randy was the “cool” engineer. I was a kid that was into cars & motorcycles & Randy would always talk gearhead stuff with me. Smart man. Always a good guy to invite to a BBQ & have a few cold ones with. He’ll be missed. Condolences to Susan & the family.

  7. phil box says:
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    we raced rc cars together, great guy and fun to be around. sad to say goodbye. thanks randy for the memories and the tour of nasa. rip