Glenn Mahone/Bob Jacobs<br />Headquarters, Washington January 15, 2004<br />(Phone: 202/358-1898/1600)<br /><br /><br />RELEASE: 04-024<br /><br /><br />NASA ANNOUNCES NEW HEADQUARTERS MANAGEMENT ALIGNMENT<br /><br /><br /> In a move designed to align the agency with the new <br />exploration agenda outlined yesterday by President George W. <br />Bush, NASA Deputy Administrator Frederick D. Gregory <br />announced a comprehensive restructuring of the offices within <br />Headquarters in Washington.<br /><br /><br />The alignment impacts NASA management, the strategic <br />Enterprises, and the agency's functional offices. The new <br />alignment goes into effect immediately and reflects the new <br />vision and the results of a comprehensive review of <br />Headquarters operations, which first began when Gregory <br />became Deputy Administrator in 2002.<br /><br /><br />Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Craig E. Steidle is the new <br />Associate Administrator, Office of Exploration Systems. Since <br />retiring from the Navy in March, 2000, he has been an <br />independent aerospace consultant. He was Chief Aerospace <br />Engineer and Vice Commander, Naval Air Systems Command, which <br />develops, acquires and supports naval aeronautical systems, <br />when he retired.<br /><br /><br />The Office of Exploration Systems is established to set <br />priorities and direct the identification, development, and <br />validation of exploration systems and related technologies. <br />Users and technologists will work together to enable a <br />balancing of factors between requirements, program schedules <br />and costs.<br /><br /><br />Steidle entered the Navy after graduating with merit from the <br />United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md. He trained as an <br />attack pilot, test pilot and test pilot instructor. Steidle <br />commanded the Navy's F/A-18 Program, naval aviation's largest <br />production, research and development program, as well as the <br />largest Foreign Military Sales Program. The Secretary of <br />Defense presented Steidle with the Navy's Outstanding Program <br />Manager Award. While Director of the Joint Strike Fighter <br />Program, the program was awarded the David Packard Excellence <br />in Acquisition Award.<br /><br /><br />Steidle earned Master of Science degrees in Systems <br />Management and Aerospace Engineering. He is a member of the <br />Society of Experimental Test Pilots and is a Fellow of the <br />Royal Aeronautical Society.<br /><br /><br />Dr. J. Victor Lebacqz is the new Associate Administrator, <br />Office of Aeronautics, which was previously known as the <br />Office of Aerospace Technology. He served as Acting Associate <br />Administrator of the Office of Aerospace Technology since <br />July 2003. He was appointed as Deputy Associate Administrator <br />in December 2002.<br /><br /><br />The new Office of Aeronautics was created to reflect NASA's <br />commitment to aviation research and aeronautics technologies <br />for the nation's civil and defense interests.<br /><br /><br />"This alignment gives us the ability to specifically focus on <br />our aeronautics and exploration systems," Gregory said. <br />"These management adjustments will give us new opportunities <br />for more effective leadership, policy and program success."<br /><br /><br />The changes are consistent with NASA's ongoing responses to <br />the management and cultural issues addressed by the Columbia <br />Accident Investigation Board. "We live in a different world <br />than we did just a few years ago, and our management <br />structure should reflect the priorities and objectives of our <br />commitments," Gregory added.<br /><br /><br />The Office of the NASA Administrator will be streamlined to <br />allow for more independent leadership in areas vital to the <br />execution of NASA's vision and mission. Among the changes, <br />four new independent offices will be created.<br /><br /><br />The new offices include:<br /><br /><br />- The Office of Chief Engineer is established to ensure <br />agency development efforts and mission operations are <br />planned and conducted using sound engineering <br />- The Office of Health and Medical Systems is established <br />to ensure the well-being of the NASA workforce and to <br />provide independent oversight authority for healthcare, <br />related research and information<br />- The Office of the Chief Information Officer is <br />established to manage the agency's Information <br />Technology (IT) investments, lead the development of an <br />IT strategic plan, and create a roadmap to guide the <br />agency's IT programs and policies<br />- The Office of Institutional and Corporate Management is <br />established to lead the oversight of NASA's management <br />systems, institutional, and corporate activities<br /><br /><br />Leadership for the new offices, as well as staffing <br />requirements and resource allocations, will be addressed as <br />the new alignment is implemented this calendar year. <br /><br /><br />For information about NASA and management programs on the <br />Internet, visit: <br /><br /><br />http://www.nasa.gov