Program Manager, Space Exploration Sector, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
Kieran Hegarty is a Program Manager in the Space Exploration Sector at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), where he leads complex NASA missions from development through launch and operations. Over the past decade, he has managed or served in senior leadership roles on four major NASA missions, including IMAP, GUSTO, EZIE, and CINEMA. Known for his integrity, clarity under pressure, and ability to unify large, multi-institutional teams, Kieran has built a reputation with both APL and NASA as a program leader who brings order, momentum, and trust to technically ambitious missions.
Kieran holds a Master’s degree in Technical Management and is a certified Project Management Professional. His work spans the full spectrum of program management, including cost and schedule control, risk mitigation, earned value analysis, subcontractor coordination, and personnel leadership. Colleagues consistently point to his ability to anticipate challenges early, surface risks transparently, and guide teams toward practical, executable solutions.
He currently serves as Project Manager for NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), a flagship heliophysics mission designed to study the interaction between the solar wind and the interstellar medium. Appointed during a critical phase of integration and test, Kieran led a comprehensive replan that balanced technical risk with sponsor confidence. Under his leadership, the mission maintained schedule discipline, remained under budget, and built a high-functioning team culture that NASA and APL leadership cite as a model for cross-institutional collaboration.
Earlier in his career, Kieran served as Project Manager for the Galactic/Extragalactic ULDB Spectroscopic Terahertz Observatory (GUSTO), a NASA balloon mission that set a world record for the longest heavy-lift balloon flight at 57 days. His leadership extended beyond meeting technical milestones; he was known for hands-on problem solving, constant situational awareness, and an approachable leadership style that earned sector-level recognition at APL, including the Ad Astra and REALIZE awards.
Kieran also served as Deputy Project Manager for NASA’s Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer (EZIE), where he streamlined subcontracting processes, strengthened coordination with the spacecraft vendor, and reduced programmatic risk through clear communication and disciplined execution. As Program Manager for CINEMA, he led APL’s first successful NASA SMEX Phase A study in more than two decades, guiding a diverse, multi-institutional team to deliver a highly regarded concept study on schedule. Following the recent selection by NASA for the mission to proceed into Phase B, Kieran will continue his project leadership for CINEMA.
Beyond mission delivery, Kieran is deeply committed to mentorship and leadership development. He mentors early-career project managers through APL’s internal programs, contributes to leadership training initiatives, and serves as a resource across the sector for navigating complex stakeholder relationships and difficult decisions.
