Posted on 10/04/2005 12:00:31 PM PDT by anymouse
End of Howell's reign is part of a shuffle designed to focus NASA on space exploration
NASA's Johnson Space Center Director Jefferson Howell Jr. announced Monday that he will leave the high-level post for a space agency liaison assignment with the University of Texas at Austin.
The retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant general will remain as director of the 15,000-person installation in Houston's Clear Lake area until NASA Administrator Michael Griffin names a successor, probably by late November.
Howell's departure is one of nearly 20 high-level personnel changes throughout the space agency since Griffin became administrator in mid-April. Griffin was given a White House directive to kick-start President Bush's strategy to return astronauts to the moon as the first stop on expeditions to Mars and other deep-space destinations.
Last month, Griffin unveiled key features of the strategy, including Johnson's lead role in overall mission planning as well as in the development of the Crew Exploration Vehicle, the new spacecraft that will replace the shuttle and carry explorers to the moon as well as the space station.
In an interview, Howell said he initiated his reassignment after consultations with Griffin made it clear Johnson will need a chief executive with stronger technical skills.
In a message to employees Monday afternoon, Howell said he is only following his own management philosophy — that leaders who stay in place too long grow stale.
Griffin praised Howell, 66, for his contributions.
"No one has been a more dedicated, supportive and collegial member of NASA's management team," the administrator said. "No one has been a more effective leader of his people."
A native of Victoria, Howell is a graduate of the University of Texas with a degree in political science. He holds a master's degree in economics from UT as well.
He was named to the Johnson post in 2002 by former NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe. At the time, Howell was a senior vice president with SAIC, the space agency's safety contractor at Johnson.
Howell proved a steadying influence at Johnson following the Feb. 1, 2003, Columbia accident that killed seven astronauts, grounded the space-shuttle fleet and forced a suspension in the assembly of the international space station.
Howell said his 37 years with the Marine Corps, including the combat missions he flew as a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War, gave him faith the space agency would recover.
"Columbia was a terrible wound to this place," he said. "I think by being here with my background and experience, I was a help at this center getting through that, getting our heads back up and getting back on track."
His duties with the University of Texas are still being defined.
However, once in Austin, he hopes to forge stronger ties between the school, especially its college of engineering, and NASA and other centers of high-tech research.
"This is an opportunity for me to challenge these students to develop the skills NASA and the country will need as we continue our journey of exploration," Howell said.
Space ping.
Well, that's the first I've heard of this. I guess I was busy today. I'm sorry to see General Howell go, JSC will miss him. He's a good leader.
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