Daniel R. Mulville is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 engineer who served briefly as Acting Administrator of NASA in 2001.

Education

Mulville received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1962, a master's degree in engineering in 1966 from The George Washington University and a Ph.D. in structural mechanics

Structural mechanics

Structural mechanics or Mechanics of structures is the computation of deformations, deflections, and internal forces or stresses within structures, either for design or for performance evaluation of existing structures. It is one subset of structural analysis...

 from Catholic University

The Catholic University of America

The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...

 in 1974. He also attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces

Industrial College of the Armed Forces

The Industrial College of the Armed Forces is a U.S. military educational institution tasked with preparing military officers and civilian government officials for leadership and executive positions in the field of national security...

 in 1986.

Early career

Mulville served as the Structures Technology Manager at the Naval Air Systems Command

Naval Air Systems Command

The Naval Air Systems Command provides material support for aircraft and airborne weapon systems for the United States Navy. NAVAIR was established in 1966 as the successor to the Navy's Bureau of Naval Weapons . Current Commander, Naval Air Systems Command, is Vice Adm. David Architzel since May...

 from 1979 to 1986. He led the development of structural design, test, and certification methods and was the program manager for development of composites for the AV-8B, F/A-18, and advanced aircraft and missile programs. He served as a program manager for Structures Research at the Office of Naval Research

Office of Naval Research

The Office of Naval Research , headquartered in Arlington, Virginia , is the office within the United States Department of the Navy that coordinates, executes, and promotes the science and technology programs of the U.S...

 in 1975 and was a mechanical engineer at the Naval Research Laboratory involved in design and analysis of aircraft, missile and ship structures from 1962 to 1979.

NASA career

From 1986 to 1990, Mulville was Deputy Director of the Materials and Structures Division in the Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology, NASA Headquarters. He managed the Advanced Composite Technology Program, the Control of Flexible Structures Program, and materials and structures elements of the Advanced Launch Systems, Space Exploration Initiative, and High Speed Civil Transport programs. Mulville also directed NASA's participation in the joint NASA/FAA Aging Aircraft Program.

From 1990 to 1994, Mulville was Director of the Engineering and Quality Management Division in the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance, NASA Headquarters. In that position, he was responsible for development of NASA's engineering and quality assurance standards and procedures related to design and development of spacecraft and aeronautics systems.

Mulville served as NASA's Chief Engineer from 1995 to 1999. He was responsible for overall review of the technical readiness and execution of all NASA programs. He provided an integrated focus for Agency-wide engineering policies, standards, and practices. From 1994 to 1995, Mulville was NASA's Deputy Chief Engineer and was responsible for ensuring that development efforts and mission operations of the Agency were conducted on a sound engineering basis.

From January 1, 2000 to February 3, 2003, Mulville was the Associate Deputy Administrator, serving as the Administrator's most senior adviser. He reported directly to the Administrator and was responsible for planning, directing, and managing the daily operations and reinvention activities of the Agency. He served briefly as acting Administrator of NASA, starting on November 19, 2001, as the result of the resignation of Daniel Goldin

Daniel Goldin

Daniel Saul Goldin served as the 9th and longest-tenured Administrator of NASA from April 1, 1992, to November 17, 2001. He was appointed by President George H. W. Bush and also served under President William Jefferson Clinton and George W...

. As an Associate Deputy Administrator, Mulville was the highest ranking NASA official at the time, due to the vacancy in the office of the Deputy Administrator. He oversaw NASA's daily operations until the new administrator, Sean O'Keefe

Sean O'Keefe

Sean O'Keefe is the CEO of EADS North America, a subsidiary of the European aerospace firm EADS, a former Administrator of NASA, and former chancellor of Louisiana State University . O'Keefe is also a former member of the board of directors of DuPont...

 was confirmed by the United States Senate

United States Senate

The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...

 on December 21, 2001.

Mulville has been awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal

NASA Distinguished Service Medal

The NASA Distinguished Service Medal is the highest award which may be bestowed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States...

, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and has received the Meritorious and Distinguished Executive Rank Awards for management and leadership.