WASHINGTON — U.S. President Barack Obama's science adviser
told Congress May 14 a NASA administrator will be announced "very shortly," and
government and industry sources said the top choice for the job is retired Marine
Corps Maj. Gen. Charlie Bolden, a former astronaut who served as a NASA
assistant deputy administrator in the early 1990s.
However, reached by phone May 15, Bolden told Space News
he had not been asked to take the job
and had no plans to meet with White House
officials to discuss it.
"I am hearing the rumors, and as far as I know there is no
truth in the rumors," Bolden said. "You can't say 'yes' or 'no' when you
haven't had a conversation. I haven't had that conversation and I don't have
one scheduled."
NASA has been without an administrator since Obama
took office Jan. 20. The vacancy has been a source of frustration for some
members of Congress as NASA faces critical decisions about retiring the space
shuttle and its future in human spaceflight.
John Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science
and Technology Policy, tried to reassure lawmakers during a House Science and
Technology Committee hearing that Obama recognizes the need to select a NASA
chief.
"I have reason for optimism that the president will be
naming an administrator for NASA very shortly and that will put at least that
concern to rest, because I think it will be an outstanding person," Holdren
said. "The concern has been to get the right person for the job, and the fact
that we don't have one now is not for lack of effort."
Bolden's name first surfaced as a candidate for NASA
administrator in January, along with retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott Gration,
a decorated fighter pilot and close adviser to Obama during his campaign who
was later appointed special envoy to Sudan. At the time, Sen. Bill Nelson
(D-Fla.) urged Obama to select someone with NASA experience and endorsed
Bolden. Nelson flew on a 1986 space shuttle mission piloted by Bolden.
During his 13 years as a NASA astronaut, Bolden logged more
than 680 hours in space during four space shuttle missions, including the 1990
Space Shuttle Discovery mission to deploy the Hubble Space Telescope. Before
retiring from the Marine Corps in 2003, Bolden was commanding general of the
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. He also served as deputy commander of U.S. Forces in
Japan.
John Logsdon, a space policy expert at the Smithsonian
Institution in Washington, said Bolden would be a good fit at NASA, especially
as an expert panel led by former Lockheed Martin chief Norm Augustine begins a
three-month review of the agency's human spaceflight plans.
"Charlie Bolden is a first-rate person who knows the issue,
so there's a very short learning curve," Logsdon said.
Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas) said while he had only heard
rumors of Bolden's possible appointment, called the former astronaut an
"inspiring choice" to head NASA.
"Gen. Bolden's career of history-making achievements is
impressive," Olson said in a written statement. "NASA needs someone who can
master the management, technical and budgetary challenges the agency is facing,
and be a strong advocate for a vibrant American space program. I have no doubt
Charlie Bolden can do those things. As the Augustine panel reviews our human
spaceflight program, it is critical that a man of integrity and accomplishment
be at the helm of NASA."
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