There is, however, a healthy example I can cite — Nobel Prize winning physicist John Mather. I asked a friend who worked in John’s group to describe John without using the words “brilliant physicist.” He smiled and told me that Mather was a really nice guy who listened to people, freely gave credit to others’ work, was eager to help and was, in general, a real Boy Scout. I’ve written a bit more about him in my blog posting A New, Improved Carl Sagan.

From this standpoint, NASA really is at a disadvantage. Energy is being led by someone who knows his stuff, knows the needs, and has intellectual capacity and credibility, as well as political acumen and leadership skills to make good stuff happen. NASA is not only without a leader, but with loads of second tier leaders jumping ship, is hardly in a position to have good stuff happen. Sadly, they’re just on autopilot right now, heading in the direction that a long gone finger used to be pointing.

I don’t recall Bush appointing any nobelists to any departments
let alone to the Cabinet.