Philosophy
What appears to be the delay in securing a new NASA Administrator? Latest contender is Steve Isakowitz.
According to administration insiders, the list of candidates to be Barack Obama’s new NASA Administrator now stands at four: Retired Air Force Gen. Lester L. Lyles; retired Air Force Gen. Scott Gration; former NASA astronaut and retired Marine Corps general, Charles Bolden; and Steve Isakowitz, the Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Energy and a former top NASA official.
The administration has given no indication when the president will nominate his selection for the top job at NASA, but there are suggestions that it could be coming soon. All candidates are undergoing careful White House vetting and scrutiny. The eventual nominee will have to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
The names of Gration, Bolden and Lyles have been floated around Washington and NASA centers for several weeks now. All have been met by and large with a luke warm response. Bolden is being strongly backed by Florida’s Democratic Senator Bill Nelson and some key players at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Gration was a key adviser to Obama during the campaign and did deal with space matters during the long march to the White House. Lyles is currently a member of the NASA Advisory Committee and is popular among some agency backers.
But the frontrunner, at least for now, appears to be Isakowitz.
He was sworn in as the Energy Department’s CFO on June 1, 2007, after being unanimously confirmed by the Senate. Prior to that he has distinguished career serving at the Office of Management and Budget, the CIA and NASA. At NASA he was Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Comptroller, and Deputy Associate Administrator in charge of major space exploration programs. An engineer, he used to work for Lockheed Martin.
His experience and reputation, and the fact that he is proven to be confirmable by the Senate appears to have put him at the front of the pack. He also looks like he may be winning support from key players in Congress, including, Maryland's powerful Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski.
Neither Mikulski not Isakowitz could be immediately reached for comment for this blog post. However, several administration insiders and industry players are saying that Isakowitz is the current favorite.
It is not known what his views are on key issues facing the agency such as the viability of NASA's current moon rocket designs, keeping the space shuttle flying longer or human vs. robotic missions.
Mike Griffin out...now who?
NASA Administrator rumors
Politics of a NASA successor
- 38 Years Later...shuttle Discovery To Be Retired
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Finally, the United States has a NASA leader. He will have a lot of tough decisions to make with the economy in shambles and an aged low altitude space ship fleet. "Uncertain NASA gets familiar former astronaut boss" by Seth Borenstein May 25th, 2009...
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We are now into the first week of May and there is no NASA administrator. Why not? "On Cusp of Big Transition, NASA Lacks Permanent Leader" by Kenneth Chang May 4th, 2009 The New York Times President Obama has yet to name the person he wants to lead...
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Subject: Message from the Center Director - Mike Griffin Departs NASA From: Centerwide Announcement Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 Message from the Center Director Mike Griffin Departs NASA I would like to forward to you a message I received from Mike...
Philosophy
Steve Isakowitz...NASA Administrator?
What appears to be the delay in securing a new NASA Administrator? Latest contender is Steve Isakowitz.
"Steve Isakowitz leads the pack for NASA Administrator job"
by
Robert Block
February 27th, 2009
OrlandoSentinel.com
by
Robert Block
February 27th, 2009
OrlandoSentinel.com
According to administration insiders, the list of candidates to be Barack Obama’s new NASA Administrator now stands at four: Retired Air Force Gen. Lester L. Lyles; retired Air Force Gen. Scott Gration; former NASA astronaut and retired Marine Corps general, Charles Bolden; and Steve Isakowitz, the Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Energy and a former top NASA official.
The administration has given no indication when the president will nominate his selection for the top job at NASA, but there are suggestions that it could be coming soon. All candidates are undergoing careful White House vetting and scrutiny. The eventual nominee will have to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
The names of Gration, Bolden and Lyles have been floated around Washington and NASA centers for several weeks now. All have been met by and large with a luke warm response. Bolden is being strongly backed by Florida’s Democratic Senator Bill Nelson and some key players at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Gration was a key adviser to Obama during the campaign and did deal with space matters during the long march to the White House. Lyles is currently a member of the NASA Advisory Committee and is popular among some agency backers.
But the frontrunner, at least for now, appears to be Isakowitz.
He was sworn in as the Energy Department’s CFO on June 1, 2007, after being unanimously confirmed by the Senate. Prior to that he has distinguished career serving at the Office of Management and Budget, the CIA and NASA. At NASA he was Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Comptroller, and Deputy Associate Administrator in charge of major space exploration programs. An engineer, he used to work for Lockheed Martin.
His experience and reputation, and the fact that he is proven to be confirmable by the Senate appears to have put him at the front of the pack. He also looks like he may be winning support from key players in Congress, including, Maryland's powerful Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski.
Neither Mikulski not Isakowitz could be immediately reached for comment for this blog post. However, several administration insiders and industry players are saying that Isakowitz is the current favorite.
It is not known what his views are on key issues facing the agency such as the viability of NASA's current moon rocket designs, keeping the space shuttle flying longer or human vs. robotic missions.
Mike Griffin out...now who?
NASA Administrator rumors
Politics of a NASA successor
- 38 Years Later...shuttle Discovery To Be Retired
An historic event on Wednesday, November 3rd 2010. "Discovery's final home 'up in the air'" November 1st, 2010 SPACE TRAVEL As the space shuttle Discovery is prepared for its Wednesday launch on its final mission, uncertainty surrounds...
- New Nasa Administrator...charles Bolden
Finally, the United States has a NASA leader. He will have a lot of tough decisions to make with the economy in shambles and an aged low altitude space ship fleet. "Uncertain NASA gets familiar former astronaut boss" by Seth Borenstein May 25th, 2009...
- Nasa Administrator...do We Have A Winner?
Maj. Gen. Charlie Bolden "Bolden Reacts To Reports of His Impending NASA Nomination" by Becky Iannotta May 15th, 2009 space.com WASHINGTON — U.S. President Barack Obama's science adviser told Congress May 14 a NASA administrator will be announced...
- Johnny Roventini..."callllll Forrrrrr Nasa Administrator"
We are now into the first week of May and there is no NASA administrator. Why not? "On Cusp of Big Transition, NASA Lacks Permanent Leader" by Kenneth Chang May 4th, 2009 The New York Times President Obama has yet to name the person he wants to lead...
- Mike Griffin Out...now Who?
Subject: Message from the Center Director - Mike Griffin Departs NASA From: Centerwide Announcement Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 Message from the Center Director Mike Griffin Departs NASA I would like to forward to you a message I received from Mike...