NASA Glenn Research Center director to assume post at space agency's HQ
NASA Glenn Research Center soon will have a new leader — one who may end up overseeing the center's transition away from the Constellation space exploration program. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration today named NASA Glenn director Woodrow Whitlow Jr. as associate administrator for Mission Support at NASA's headquarters in Washington, D.C. He will remain director of NASA Glenn until a replacement is named. The announcement comes just two days after the White House issued a budget proposal for NASA that would eliminate the Constellation program, should the budget be approved by Congress. The Constellation program's goal is to return astronauts to the moon and eventually send a manned flight to Mars.
Dr. Whitlow became NASA Glenn's director on Dec. 25, 2005. Since then, he has led the center as it successfully won rights to several Constellation-related projects that today account for 13% of the research center's budget.
In this new position, Dr. Whitlow will be responsible for most NASA management operations, including human capital, budget and systems support as well as a variety of other cross-agency business, institutional and contract support functions.
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden praised Dr. Whitlow's abilities in a news release from the federal agency.
“I know the people of Glenn will miss Woodrow, but the entire agency will again have the opportunity to benefit from his insight and experience,” Mr. Bolden said.
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