Bob Jacobs

Headquarters, Washington Jan. 31, 2002

(Phone: 202/358-1600)

RELEASE: 02-18

WHITE HOUSE, NASA ADMINISTRATOR MOVE

TO FILL KEY AGENCY POSITIONS

NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe and the White House today

announced a number of key nominations and appointments in an
effort to fill open positions within the space agency.

The President announced his intention to nominate former NASA

astronaut and Assistant Deputy Administrator, Major General
Charles F. Bolden, U.S. Marine Corps, as NASA's next Deputy
Administrator. Bolden, 55, currently serves as the Commanding
General, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

"I am grateful for the President's overwhelming confidence in

General Bolden. I could not ask for a more qualified partner
to help lead this great agency," said Administrator O'Keefe.
"His management and leadership skills in the fields of
aeronautics and space technology will play a vital role in
charting a new course for America's space program. I am
delighted he accepted this nomination and look forward to
welcoming him back to the NASA family. We are hopeful for
expeditious consideration by the United States Senate."

A veteran of four Space Shuttle flights, Bolden was pilot on

STS-61C in 1986 and STS-31 in 1990, and was the mission
commander on STS-45 in 1992. That same year, he was appointed
Assistant Deputy Administrator at NASA Headquarters in
Washington, a position he held until 1994, when he was named
commander of STS-60. He left the space program having logged
more than 680 hours in orbit.

As Deputy Administrator, Bolden will serve as the chief

operating officer for the agency and report directly to the
Administrator. He will be responsible for directing and
managing many of the programs and day-to-day operations and
activities at NASA.

Administrator O'Keefe filled additional positions at NASA

Headquarters. Paul Pastorek will serve as the agency's General
Counsel at NASA Headquarters. He replaces Edward A. Frankle,
who retired in December.

Pastorek's principal responsibility will be to serve in an

advisory capacity to the Administrator and work with the
Enterprise Associate Administrators and NASA Center Directors
to ensure agency activities are conducted in accordance with
all statutory and regulatory requirements.

Before joining NASA, Pastorek was a partner in the New Orleans

office of the regional law firm of Adams and Reese. He was in
charge of the Special Business Services Practice Group, which
practiced in the areas of employment and labor, governmental
relations, intellectual property, health care, oil and gas,
and environment and education.

Pastorek's primary civic involvement is in education and he

will play a role in many of NASA's institutional and education
efforts. He currently serves as the president of Louisiana
State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, as well as
serving on a number of other state boards and commissions.
"Paul brings vast educational experience to NASA," added
Administrator O'Keefe. "His fresh perspective will be valuable
to the future efforts of this agency."

Two current Acting Associate Administrators, Glenn Mahone and

Jeff M. Bingham, have been appointed to permanent Assistant
Administrator positions, effective immediately.

Before being appointed Acting Associate Administrator of

Public Affairs in August, Mahone served as NASA Press
Secretary and Senior Advisor for the Administrator's office.
He served as special assistant and senior advisor to the
chairperson at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission before joining NASA in April 2000. His previous
experience also includes work as a management consultant to
the President and CEO of Stephens Engineering Company, Inc.,
Lanham, Md., and he was a special assistant to the Assistant
Secretary of Employment and Training for the Department of
Labor.

Bingham, who was appointed Acting Associate Administrator of

Legislative Affairs in April, joined the agency's Office of
Legislative Affairs in 1994, where he served as coordinator in
NASA's Space Station Program Office. Before joining NASA,
Bingham served 17 years as
Chief of Staff to former U.S. Senator Jake Garn, of Utah,
where he was actively involved in congressional consideration
of NASA. In 2001, Bingham provided support to the Bush-Cheney
Transition Team and was appointed Special Assistant to NASA
Chief of Staff and White House Liaison, Courtney Stadd.

The Administrator also named Charles T. Horner, III as Deputy

Assistant Administrator for Legislative Affairs (Resources) at
NASA Headquarters. Horner is currently Principal Deputy
Assistant Secretary for the Army for Financial Management and
Comptroller. At NASA, Horner will work with the Assistant
Administrator of Legislative Affairs to provide executive
leadership, direction, and coordination of communications and
relationships between NASA and Congress. He'll also provide
strategic advice and planning.

Horner has an extensive background in resource management and

significant experience in legislative affairs and
appropriations management.

"In order to make the right decisions for our nation's

aeronautics and space programs, we have to get the right
people in the right places," added Administrator O'Keefe.
"These nominations and appointments are just the first steps
in our journey. I'm excited about the future of NASA."

Additional announcements regarding positions within the agency

are expected in the coming weeks.

-end-