Comments on: The three things Rep. Giffords is looking for in a NASA administrator

By: Space Politics » Lampson: not asked, but would be honored to serve

Space Politics » Lampson: not asked, but would be honored to serve — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:55:20 +0000

[…] As previously noted, former congressman Nick Lampson is now rumored to be under consideration for the NASA administrator’s job. Lampson is in Colorado Springs for the National Space Symposium, so I asked him about those reports after a press conference by the Coalition for Space Exploration to announce its new board of advisors (which includes Lampson). “It’s a rumor,” he said. “All I can say is that I would be honored if I was asked. I haven’t been asked.” […]

By: Major Tom

Major Tom — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:21:33 +0000

It’s hard to know how to handicap Bolden or Lampson in the role of NASA Administrator.

Either Bolden’s leadership qualities or Lampson’s political experience could be a boon for NASA, especially its human space flight programs. If Bolden applied his military operations experience, led from the front, and took on hard decisions regarding Shuttle and Ares I/Orion, he could be an agent for change and push the agency in new, better, and more efficient directions. Similarly, if Lampson acted on the usual congressional rhetoric about poorly performing programs and was able to use his political connections to give the agency more maneuvering room to dispose of bad and invest in good programs and institution, he could be a transformative, Jim Webb-like figure.

On the other hand, Bolden’s connections to George Abbey and apparent indebtedness to Sen. Nelson would seem to imply that he’s being put in place to extend Shuttle operations. Similarly, after being so closely associated with a specific NASA field center, it’s hard to see Lampson favoring good program decisions over jobs retention. Either would seem to be at odds with Pres. Obama’s stated desire for a new, forward-looking vision for NASA.

If they are the two final candidates, here’s hoping it’s the former Bolden or Lampson that shows up in the Administrator’s suite, rather than the latter.

FWIW…

By: Donald F. Robertson

Donald F. Robertson — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:50:23 +0000

I would reverse Rep. Giffords’ order. As we should have learned with Dr. Griffin, political acumen should come first and foremost in a NASA Administrator. The technical skill should reside in the Associate Administrator and other supporting staff. Then, we need to hope that the Administrator is adept at listening to their technical staff.

— Donald

By: Ron Carlson

Ron Carlson — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 10:19:11 +0000

I think that NASA Acting Administrator Christopher Scolese or NASA Associate Administrator for Space Operations William Gerstenmaier would make far better choices for NASA Administrator then the names so far suggested to replace Mike Griffen.

By: SpaceMan

SpaceMan — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 22:08:19 +0000

Dark Horse eah ? Here is one.

Bryan D. O’Connor – Chief, Safety and Mission Assurance, NASA

“http://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/oconnor_bio.html”

By: Charles In Houston

Charles In Houston — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:18:59 +0000

As a long time supporter of Nick Lampson, and a long time space industry guy, he is not the right guy to run NASA. I would love to see him in some leadership position in the Interior or something but I do think the Technical Background is the top of the list for a good reason.
A real dark horse candidate – Jim Oberg. He has Technical Background all right but not a lot of experience running a large organization and very little political experience.

By: Sheridan

Sheridan — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:18:10 +0000

In its traditional cryptic way, the RAS blog is already saying that Lampson is the winner. Recent history says that RAS has very often been proven to be right.

By: Ferris Valyn

Ferris Valyn — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:03:34 +0000

I’d like to add – agent of change in there as well.