Posted on 12/16/2004 2:27:13 PM PST by anymouse
Lauds credentials and talents of former Air Force space director
U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today urged the Bush Administration to choose Brigadier General Simon P. Worden (USAF, Ret.) as the next head of NASA. Worden is a former legislative fellow in Brownback’s office.
“General Worden would serve our nation strongly as NASA Administrator,” Brownback stated. “We are at a critical juncture in the agency’s history, when NASA is implementing the President’s vision for space, the shuttle is returning to flight and the agency is learning to work hand in hand with private enterprise. The agency needs an administrator with a strong background in scientific thought, practical application and the ability to get things done. General Worden meets all these criteria. His illustrious career includes much service in the Air Force, and after working with the General in my office for the past year, I know firsthand that he is one of the best minds on space policy today.”
General Simon “Pete” Worden served as the Director of Development and Transformation at the Space and Missile Systems Center of the Air Force Space Command. He has twice served in the White House on the National Space Council and Office of Science and Technology Policy, worked on all phases of the Strategic Defense Initiative, commanded the 50th Space Wing, and served in both the Air Force Space Command and Space Operations. Worden, who also holds a doctorate in astronomy, has authored more than 150 scientific technical papers on astrophysics, space science and strategic studies.
Brownback continued, “General Worden is a creative thinker who can cut through the stifling bureaucracy in the current space program. He can lead NASA and our country’s space program boldly into the future. When the history book is written about men walking on Mars and going beyond, General Worden’s name will be a large part of that story. I am hopeful he’ll be able to add another chapter to history serving our nation as NASA Administrator.”
Current NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe submitted his letter of resignation to the President Monday.
Brownback is chairman of the Science, Technology and Space Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. He has held several hearings, including a field hearing in Houston, on U.S. space exploration, the space shuttle, the International Space Station, lunar and Martian exploration.
Space ping
I don't know what kind of leader he is, but former Rep. Bob Walker is a visionary when it comes to commercializing space. He would also be a good guy to sell NASA's initiatives on the Hill.
NASA needs somebody that is not embarrassed to read a SOW.
Sounds good so far. Someone who has both a reputable science background coupled with an outstanding record administrative experience (like Marburger) would go a long way.
Any thoughts?
BRIGADIER GENERAL SIMON P. WORDEN (retired) Source: af.mil
Brig. Gen. Simon P. Worden is Director of Development and Transformation, Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Space Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.
General Worden was commissioned in 1971 after receiving a bachelor of science degree from the University of Michigan. He entered the Air Force in 1975 after graduating from the University of Arizona with a doctorate in astronomy. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, General Worden served in every phase of development, international negotiations and implementation of the Strategic Defense Initiative, a primary component in ending the Cold War. He twice served in the executive office of the presidents. As the staff officer for initiatives in the George Bush administration's National Space Council, the general spearheaded efforts to revitalize U.S. civil space exploration and earth monitoring programs, and was the architect of the "faster, cheaper, better" approach now adopted throughout the U.S. space program.
General Worden commanded the 50th Space Wing that is responsible for more than 60 Department of Defense satellites and more than 6,000 people at 23 worldwide locations. He then served as Deputy Director for Requirements at Headquarters Air Force Space Command, as well as the Deputy Director for Command and Control with the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations at Air Force headquarters. Prior to assuming his current position, General Worden was responsible for policy and direction of five mission areas: force enhancement, space support, space control, force application and computer network defense.
General Worden has written or co-written more than 150 scientific technical papers in astrophysics, space sciences and strategic studies. He was a scientific co-investigator for two NASA space science missions.
EDUCATION
1971 Bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
1975 Doctor of philosophy degree in astronomy, University of Arizona, Tucson
1978 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1987 National War College, Washington, D.C.
1997 National Security Studies, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1975 - October 1979, astrophysicist, Air Force Geophysics Laboratory, National Solar Observatory, Sunspot, N.M.
2. November 1979 - September 1983, Chief, Advanced Technology Division, Air Force Space Systems Division, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
3. October 1983 - May 1986, Special Assistant to the director, Strategic Defense Initiative Organization, Department of Defense, and adviser, delegation to the negotiations on nuclear and space arms with the Soviet Union, Geneva, Switzerland
4. June 1986 - July 1987, senior policy analyst, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President, and senior research fellow, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
5. August 1987 - August 1989, Crew Commander, Space Defense Operations Center, later, Chief, Special Operations Branch, U.S. Space Command, Cheyenne Mountain AFB, Colo.
6. September 1989 - September 1991, Director, Advanced Concepts, Science and Technology, National Space Council, Executive Office of the President, Washington, D.C.
7. October 1991 - November 1993, Deputy for Technology, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, Washington, D.C.
8. December 1993 - July 1994, technical adviser to the special assistant for theater air defense, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
9. August 1994 - November 1994, Director of Analysis and Engineering, Space Warfare Center, Air Force Space Command, Falcon AFB, Colo.
10. November 1994 - March 1996, Commander, 50th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command, Falcon AFB, Colo.
11. March 1996 - June 1997, Deputy Director of Requirements, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
12. July 1997 - September 1998, Deputy for Battlespace Dominance, Directorate of Operational Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
13. September 1998 - December 1999, Deputy Director for Operational Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
14. January 2000 - November 2000, Deputy Director for Command and Control, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
15. November 2000 October 2002, Vice Director of Operations, Headquarters U.S. Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
16. October 2002 present, Director of Development and Transformation, Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Space Command, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal
Air Force Outstanding Research and Development Medal (2)
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 1, 1971
First Lieutenant May 1, 1974
Captain May 1, 1977
Major Nov. 1, 1982
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 1986
Colonel Oct. 1, 1989
Brigadier General Sept. 1, 2000
(Current as of February 2003)
NASA has selected an acting admin. I didn't note his name, but it is not Hoagland.
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