Personal: Male. Born in USA.

Wesley L. Hjornevik began federal service in 1949 as a budget examiner and program analyst. In 1957 he became assistant to the under secretary in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and in October of the next year he moved to NASA as assistant to T. Keith Glennan. He became deputy director of business administration on 15 December 1959. In 1961 he became associate director for manned space flight in Houston, Texas, serving until October 1969 when he became the deputy director of the Office of Economic Opportunity. In 1974 he became the director of public administration for the state of Texas.