David Weaver
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
david.s.weaver@nasa.gov
RELEASE: 12-059
NASA ADMINISTRATOR ANNOUNCES SENIOR LEADERSHIP CHANGES
WASHINGTON -- NASA Administrator Charles Bolden announced Tuesday
changes to his senior leadership team. Associate Administrator Chris
Scolese was named director of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in
Greenbelt, Md., and Robert Lightfoot, director of the agency's
Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., will serve as
acting associate administrator. Both will assume their new
responsibilities on March 5.
Scolese, who has been with NASA since 1987, succeeds Robert Strain,
who announced his decision to return to private industry in January.
Lightfoot joined NASA in 1989 as a test engineer and program manager
at Marshall. Lightfoot's deputy, Gene Goldman, will serve as
Marshall's acting center director.
"Both Chris and Robert are dedicated public servants who have a
passion for NASA and exploration," Bolden said. "We are fortunate to
have such talented and experienced leaders who are capable of
assuming these critical responsibilities during this important time."
As associate administrator, Lightfoot will be the agency's
highest-ranking civil servant, responsible for oversight and
integration of NASA's broad efforts in human space flight, science
and aeronautics. At Goddard, Scolese will lead a major U.S.
laboratory for developing and operating unmanned scientific
spacecraft. Goddard manages many of NASA's Earth observation,
astronomy and space physics missions. It was established in 1959 as
NASA's first space flight facility.
"I am excited with the depth and diversity of experiences Chris and
Robert will bring to their new roles," Bolden added. "I know the
entire NASA family will wish them continued success as they begin
these new challenges."
Scolese served as the agency's acting administrator in 2009 and was
previously NASA's chief engineer. As chief engineer, Scolese was
responsible for ensuring that development efforts and mission
operations within the agency were planned and conducted on a sound
technical and management basis. He also served as deputy associate
administrator in the Office of Space Science at Headquarters and
previously served as deputy director of Goddard, Earth Orbiting
Satellite program manager, and deputy director of flight programs and
projects for Earth Science.
Lightfoot began his NASA career as a test engineer and manager for the
space shuttle main engine technology test bed program. He then served
in leadership positions at Marshall, Stennis Space Center in Bay St.
Louis, Miss., and Headquarters. In 1998, Lightfoot was named deputy
division chief of Marshall's Propulsion Test Division. He joined
Stennis in 1999 as chief of Propulsion Test Operations where he
managed space shuttle main engine testing and multiple NASA,
Department of Defense, and industry rocket engine test programs. From
2003 to 2005, he was assistant associate administrator for the Space
Shuttle Program, Office of Space Flight, at Headquarters.
Both men are highly honored NASA leaders, earning the Presidential
Rank Award of Meritorious Executive and agency medals for outstanding
leadership.
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