NASA: New manager named for space shuttle program

WASHINGTON (AP) - William W. Parsons, director of NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, was named today as the new manager of the space shuttle program.

Parsons succeeds Ronald Dittemore, who resigned April 23. Dittemore rose to prominence while acting as a spokesman for the space agency following the destruction of space shuttle Columbia.

From the Wshington Post

Lawmakers Seek Access to NASA Testimony
'Privileged' Statements on Columbia Won't See 'Light of Day,' Panel Chief Says

excerpt----

Lawmakers and the board investigating the Columbia space shuttle disaster are locked in a dispute over congressional demands for access to information gleaned from hundreds of "privileged interviews" that investigators have conducted with NASA officials, engineers and others directly involved in the failed mission.

Although the board has conducted nine public hearings into the Feb. 1 accident that killed the seven crew members, the most sensitive testimony about NASA decision making and management practices has been taken behind closed doors. Board Chairman Harold W. Gehman Jr., a retired admiral, has said that he is more concerned about pinpointing the causes of the accident and recommending corrective changes than in publicly pointing a finger of blame.

But key Republicans and Democrats on the House Science Committee said yesterday that the testimony from 200 witnesses is essential to their understanding of the accident, and they vowed to press Gehman and the board for access.

The accident rate -- one of every 62.5 missions -- ``is simply not acceptable,'' said Barton, a member of the House Science Committee's space and aeronautics panel.

Barton, shut yer pie-hole! The loss rate isn't acceptable FOREVER, that's true. But as a vehicle, it's the best we have at the moment, and to keep it grounded because you're scared politically is stupid.

It's like getting bucked off a horse - you either train it to stop bucking you or ride it until you get a new horse. You don't stay off the trail until a new steed drops in your lap!

William (Bill) W. Parsons, Jr.
Director, 2002-Present

William W. Parsons, a native of Mississippi, serves as director of NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center in south Mississippi, a unique federal and commercial city that is home to more than 30 federal, state, academic and private organizations. He is responsible for accomplishing the center's current missions of coordinating all rocket propulsion test capabilities for NASA, as well as managing its commercial remote sensing applications programs. Stennis is also a national leader in education and the development and transfer of NASA technology.

Mr. Parsons graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Engineering degree. He also holds a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from the University of Central Florida.

He began his career in the United States Marine Corps as an Infantry Officer, then worked as a manufacturing engineer and later as an aerospace engineer at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. In 1990, Parsons joined the NASA team at Kennedy Space Center as a Launch Site Support Manager in the Shuttle Operations Directorate and also worked as an Executive Management Intern and later as the Shuttle Flow Director of the Shuttle Operations Directorate at KSC. In 1996, he became Manager of the Space Station Hardware Integration Office at KSC.

Mr. Parsons came to Stennis Space Center in 1997 as the Chief of Operations of the Propulsion Test Directorate. He relocated to Johnson Space Center to become the Director of the Center Operations Directorate and later served as the Deputy Director of Johnson Space Center. He returned to Stennis in 2001 where he served as Director of the Center Operations and Support Directorate. In 2002, Parsons was assigned to his current position as Director of Stennis Space Center that also includes directing the technical management and administration functions assigned to the Center.

Special honors and awards Mr. Parsons has received include NASA's Exceptional Service Medal; the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement; the Silver Snoopy; the Center Directors' Commendation; and the Commandants Certificate of Commendation from the United States Marine Corps.

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