A Montevallo native has been named the new deputy director of NASA&8217;s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.

Robert M. Lightfoot Jr. has been selected to replace Charles Chitwood, who accepted a position in the private sector.

&8220;Robert Lightfoot is an outstanding leader who has the experience and expertise we need at the Marshall Center to continue to be a key player in NASA&8217;s space exploration mission,&8221; said David King, center director.

Lightfoot started his career with NASA in 1989 as a test engineer and program manager. Since then, he has held various positions with the NASA, until his promotion to propulsion office manager in November 2005.

At NASA, Lightfoot is responsible for everything that makes the shuttle airborne, including engines, tanks and rocket boosters.

Lightfoot grew up in Montevallo and his family still lives there. He is the son of former Councilman Robert M. Lightfoot and his wife, Gene. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alabama in 1986.

Last December, he received the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executives. The honor is the highest given for federal government work.

Lightfoot and his wife, the former Caroline Smith, and their two children, Kelsey and Haley, now live in Huntsville