The Next NASA Administrator

Obama will most likely appoint a new NASA Administrator. Who would you like to see as the next NASA Administrator?

- Nominate: Is your candidate not listed? Add your own and follow the syntax to ease in comparison between candidates. Candidates have to fit the following criteria: (1) a person, (2) alive, and (3) either in a space related enterprise or had experience running an organisation with over 1000 staff.

- Comment: Add to the discussion about each candidate, and please be substantive.

- Vote: Made up your mind? Please vote!

Nominated and don’t want to be on the list? Send an e-mail to obamanasa@gmail.com. *

I would like to nominate ...

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    1. phil plait

      Dr. Phil Plait, aka "The Bad Astronomer", PhD from the University of Virginia, formerly faculty at Sonoma State University, is a well-known skeptic, science education proponent, president of the James Randi Foundation, and author.

      4,161 votes
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      • Neil deGrass Tyson [BA, MA, PhD]

        Education: BA in Physics, Harvard, MA in Astronomy U. of Texas at Austin
        Ph.D. Astrophysics, Columbia
        Experience: served on NASA Advisory Council, Commission on the Future of the
        United States Aerospace Industry and in 2004 to serve on the President's
        Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy
        Current Position: Director of the Hayden Planetarium, New York
        Age: 50
        Major accomplishments: President of the Planetary Society, authored over 10
        books
        More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_deGrasse_Tyson

        1,156 votes
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        • Pete Worden [Brig. Gen., BS, PhD]

          Education: BS Physics and Astronomy, U. of Michigan, Ph.D. Astronomy, U. of
          Arizona
          Experience: Commander, 50th Space Wing, Director of Development and
          Transformation, Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Space Command,
          Professor of Astronomy, U. of Arizona
          Current Position: Director of NASA Ames Research Center
          Age: 59
          Major accomplishments: over 150 scientific papers in astrophysics, space
          sciences, and strategic studies,
          More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Worden

          1,054 votes
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          • Tim Huddleston

            Tim is the founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Aerospace Development Center (NADC). NADC is a unique national nonprofit center that is independent and nonpartisan and promotes future economic growth potentials derived from space and enabled through a true aerospace approach to space access.

            Tim previously served as the Executive Director of the Aerospace States Association (ASA), an organization that represents states on matters related to aerospace policy and development. Tim was appointed Executive Director on February 18, 2003 by the ASA Board of Directors which is composed of Lt. Governors and Governor appointed delegates… more

            1,031 votes
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            • 849 votes
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              • Mike Heney

                Mike Heney has been an active member of the space development and commercialization community for the past 30 years. He has been affiliated with the National Space Society (formerly the L-5 Society) since 1978. In 1993, he worked with SpaceCause to present the initial results from the DC-X program to the United States Senate. He has worked with ProSpace, a space policy lobbying organization, since its inception in 1995, and served as its Vice President in 1997. He was invited to join the Space Frontier Foundation in 1996, and as served as a member of the Board of Directors, as… more

                404 votes
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                • Lori Garver [MA, BA]

                  Education: MA Science, Technology, and Public Policy, GWU, BA Political
                  Science and Economics, Colorado College
                  Experience: NASA Associate Administrator, Vice President of DFI Corporate
                  Services, Executive Director NSS
                  Current Position: Lead, Obama-NASA Presidential Transition Team
                  for NASA
                  Age: 47
                  Major accomplishments: served as a space policy advisor for the Presidential
                  campaigns of John Kerry, Hilary Clinton, and Barack Obama
                  More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lori_Garver

                  397 votes
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                  • Rick Tumlinson

                    Experience: co-Founder of the Space Frontier Foundation, co-founder of MirCorp, helped pass the Space Settlement Act of 1988, testified before President Ronald Reagan's National Commission on Space, and was a founding trustee of the X-Prize

                    More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Tumlinson

                    326 votes
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                    • Mike Griffin [BS, MS, PhD, MEng, MS, MBA, MEng]

                      Education: BS Physics, JHU, MS Aerospace Science, Catholic U. of
                      America, PhD Aerospace Engineering, U. Maryland College Park,
                      MEng Electrical Engineering, USC, MS Applied Physics, JHU, MBA
                      Loyola College in Maryland, MEng Civil Engineering, GWU
                      Experience: Strategic Defense Initiative Organization's Chief Engineer, NASA
                      Associate Administrator for Exploration, Chief Operating Officer of
                      In-Q-Tel, CIA, Head of Space Department, APL.
                      Current Position: NASA Administrator
                      Age: 59
                      Major accomplishments: More than two dozen technical papers and co-author of aerospace engineering textbook, "Space
                      Vehicle Design." Member of National Academy of Engineering.
                      More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_D._Griffin

                      325 votes
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                      • Sally Ride [BA, BS, MS, PhD]

                        Education: BA English, BS Physics, MS Astrophysics, PhD Astrophysics from
                        Stanford.
                        Experience: NASA Astronaut (STS-7, STS-41), Physics Professor UCSD
                        Current Position: President and CEO of Sally Ride Science
                        Age: 57
                        Major accomplishments: first American woman in space
                        More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sally_Ride

                        310 votes
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                        • Alan Stern [BS, PhD]

                          Education: PhD Astrophysics and Planetary Science from UC Boulder
                          Experience: Executive Director Southwest Research Institute, NASA Associate
                          Administrator Science Mission Directorate
                          Current Position: authored or co-authored over 100 scientific papers
                          More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Stern

                          305 votes
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                          • Charles Bolden [Maj. Gen., BS, MS]

                            Education: BS Electrical Science, United States Naval Academy, MS, Systems
                            Management, USC
                            Experience: Marine Test pilot, NASA astronaut, NASA Assistant Deputy
                            Administrator, Deputy Commandant of Midshipmen (USNA)
                            Current Position: retired
                            Age: 62
                            Major accomplishments: astronaut of 4 shuttle missions
                            More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bolden

                            205 votes
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                            • Zachary C. Krevor

                              Currently a Senior Reliability Engineer for Lockheed Martin, working on Project Orion. Has extensive knowledge of the propulsion and ECLSS subsystems on Orion in addition to general knowledge of the spacecraft as a whole.

                              Holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering along with a M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Received a B.S. from UCLA in Mechanical Engineering.

                              While relatively young, has experience working on a variety of NASA contracts during his career. He has worked for the private space industry (Blue Origin), the commercial space industry (Lockheed Martin), and government space programs(NASA-KSC). Will bring fresh ideas… more

                              202 votes
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                              • robin matthews

                                visionary, enterprise, strategy, communication, leadership

                                a.Chef de Cabinet at Libertas

                                b. Consultant at Saffron Brand Consultants
                                How we see it /

                                It’s a new brand world.

                                Stimulation, experimentation and transformation.

                                Wherever you are – and that’s partly the point – branding’s on the move. Unremittingly, the game keeps changing.

                                We think these new occasions (opportunities? challenges?) call for a new form of branding consultancy: one with above average experience, talent and brains; a different and flexible way of working; and a richer understanding of the world.

                                Thoughtfulness and originality, yes. Formulaic process, no.

                                The obvious macro trends – the Internet,… more

                                178 votes
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                                • John C. Mankins

                                  John C. Mankins, Star of Discovery Project Earth- Orbital Power Plant- on the Discovery Channel. President of Artemis Innovation Management Solutions LLC is an internationally recognized leader in space systems and technology innovation, and as a highly effective manager of large-scale technology R&D programs.

                                  Mr. Mankins' 25-year career at NASA and CalTech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) ranged from flight projects and space mission operations, to systems level innovation and advanced technology research & development management. He is also well known as an innovator in R&D management, and was one of the creators of the widely used "technology readiness level" (TRL)… more

                                  142 votes
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                                  • Peter Diamandis [BS, PhD, MD]

                                    Education: BS Aerospace Engineering MIT, Ph.D. Health, Sciences and Technology, MIT, M.D. from Harvard Medical School.
                                    Experience: CEO of BlastOff! Corporation, Co-founded Space Adventures Ltd, Director and CEO, International Space University, co-founder, Zero Gravity Corporation
                                    Current Position: Founder and Chairman of the X PRIZE Foundation
                                    Age: 47
                                    Major accomplishments: Founder, International Space University, Ansari X-Prize
                                    More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Diamandis

                                    138 votes
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                                    • 104 votes
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                                      • Steve Squyres [BS, PhD]

                                        Education: BS in Geology, Ph.D. Cornell
                                        Experience: PI Mars Exploration Rover Mission, co-investigator on 2003 Mars
                                        Express and 2005 Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter missions, member of the NASA
                                        Advisory Council
                                        Current Position: Professor of Astronomy at Cornell
                                        Age: 51
                                        Major accomplishments: authored or co-authored over 500 scientific papers
                                        More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Squyres

                                        103 votes
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                                        • Scott Hubbard [BS]

                                          Education: BS Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt U., graduate studies Solid State and Semiconductor Physics, UC Berkeley
                                          Experience: Director, NASA Ames Research Center, Director NASA Mars Program, Director Astrobiology Institute, Program Manager, Lunar Prospector, Member Columbia Accident Investigation Board
                                          Current Position: Professor, Stanford, Carl Sagan Chair for the Study of Life in the Universe at the SETI Institute
                                          Age:
                                          Major accomplishments: authored over 50 scientific papers
                                          More info: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/releases/2002/02images/hubbard/hubbardbio.html

                                          103 votes
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                                          • George Whitesides

                                            Exec Director of NSS, Virgin Galactic Founder, experienced in politics, management, and engineering

                                            96 votes
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