James R. Thompson Jr.

James R. Thompson Jr.
Official NASA portrait of James R. Thompson Jr.
Born	(1936-03-06)March 6, 1936 Greenville, South Carolina, U.S.
Died	November 7, 2017(2017-11-07) (aged 81) Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Education	Bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology, Master's degree in mechanical engineering at University of Florida, post-graduate work in fluid mechanics at University of Alabama
Occupation(s)	Director of the Marshall Space Flight Center

James Robert Thompson Jr. (March 6, 1936 – November 7, 2017), known as J.R. Thompson, was the fifth director of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center located in Huntsville, Alabama. He served as director from September 29, 1986, to July 6, 1989. Thompson also served as NASA's deputy director from July 6, 1989, to November 8, 1991.