Sep 25 2012

From The Space Library

RELEASE: 12-335 NASA ANNOUNCES SENIOR LEADERSHIP CHANGES

WASHINGTON -- NASA Administrator Charles Bolden announced three changes to his senior leadership team Tuesday. Robert Lightfoot, acting associate administrator at NASA Headquarters in Washington, will assume that role on a permanent basis. Patrick Scheuermann, director of NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Miss., will become director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Scheuermann, will replace Robin Henderson, who has filled the position on a temporary basis since Gene Goldman's retirement Aug. 3. Lightfoot began his assignment as acting associate administrator March 5. Scheuermann's successor as the Stennis director is Dr. Richard J. Gilbrech, who currently serves as that center's deputy director. All three management changes are effective immediately. "Robert, Patrick and Rick are three of NASA's finest public servants who will continue to play key roles in our agency's future," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. "America is fortunate to have three such talented leaders assuming these important jobs at a pivotal time for NASA and space exploration." As associate administrator, Lightfoot is the agency's highest-ranking civil servant, responsible for oversight and integration of NASA's broad efforts in human space flight, science and aeronautics. 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 and Headquarters. From 2003 to 2005, he was assistant associate administrator for the Space Shuttle Program, Office of Space Flight, at Headquarters. Scheuermann has provided executive leadership, overall direction and management of Stennis since being named that center's director in 2010. He is responsible for implementing NASA's mission in the area of rocket propulsion testing, and developing and maintaining NASA's world-class rocket propulsion test facilities. Scheuermann previously served as Stennis' deputy director and associate director, in addition to working as chief operating officer of NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Since joining NASA in 1988 as a propulsion test engineer, he worked on numerous major test projects at Stennis, including serving as project manager for NASA's Reusable Launch Vehicle program, a NASA-industry effort to develop a new generation of safe and cost-effective rockets to send payloads to space. Gilbrech has served as Stennis' deputy director since 2010. He began his NASA career in 1991 at Stennis in the area of propulsion test technology. From 1998 to 2000, he served as chief of the Propulsion Test Engineering Division at Stennis, and in 2003, he was named manager of the Propulsion Integration Office, responsible for managing NASA's rocket propulsion test facilities. Later in 2003, Gilbrech relocated to Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., to become a principal engineer in the NASA Engineering and Safety Center. He later served as deputy of the NASA Engineering and Safety Center and as deputy director of Langley. In 2006, Gilbrech was named director of Stennis, serving in that role until assuming leadership of NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at Headquarters in Washington. All three men are highly honored NASA leaders, earning the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive and agency medals for outstanding leadership.

RELEASE: 12-336 NASA OPENS ACCREDITATION TO SOCIAL MEDIA FOR SPACEX LAUNCH

WASHINGTON -- NASA is inviting social media users to apply for credentials for the Oct. 7 launch of the first contracted cargo resupply flight to the International Space Station under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services contract. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is targeted to liftoff at 8:34 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. A back up launch opportunity is available on Oct. 8. Social media users selected to attend the SpaceX launch will be given the same access as journalists in an effort to align the access and experience of social media representatives with those of traditional media. "We look at this as a natural extension and an evolution of the NASA Social concept," said Bob Jacobs, deputy associate administrator for the agency's Office of Communications. "Just as radio, television, and other media expanded the definition of 'the press,' we're going to open our doors to influential and interested people who engage in social media activities and invite them to work alongside traditional media." People who actively collect, report, analyze and disseminate news on social networking platforms are encouraged to apply for media credentials. There will be no special badge, tour or program for social media attendees. Selection is not random. Those chosen must prove through the registration process they meet specific engagement criteria. The highly successful and widely recognized NASA Social events will continue. Since 2009, NASA has hosted more than 40 events as a way to engage the social community in an open and lively conversation about various exploration projects and programs. The agency's social media efforts have been recognized as among the best in federal government. NASA recently has been soliciting questions from social media using the hashtag #askNASA. "Earlier this year, the Fiscal Year 2013 budget news conference at Headquarters in Washington was the first time we invited social media participants to join reporters," added Jacobs. "After expressing initial concerns, we believe traditional media were pleased with the outcome. We look forward to evaluating how everyone works together this time."

CONTRACT RELEASE: C12-052 NASA SELECTS CONTRACT FOR AEROSPACE MODELING AND SIMULATION

WASHINGTON -- NASA has selected Science Applications International Corp. of McLean, Va., to receive a contract to support the aerospace systems modeling and simulation facilities at the agency's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. This is a cost-plus-award-fee, definite core, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity hybrid contract to be awarded in early to mid October. The contract consists of a one-year base period and four one-year options and has a maximum value of $76 million. Under the terms of the contract, the company will provide technical services and be responsible for the successful preparation and operation of the simulators, collection of research data, and the continuing operation and upgrades of the facilities. The work will be performed at Ames.