NASA Names New Shuttle Program Chief

CAPE CANAVERAL - NASAshuffled shuttle program management Friday, sending its chief off to a newlycreated post and installing his deputy in the top spot.

Wayne Hale, who played apivotal role in NASA's recovery from the 2003 Columbia accident, willlead a new office responsible for developing strategies for a smooth transitionbetween shuttle and International Space Station operations and moon missions.

"His eloquencecertainly lends to his credibility, and he has the credentials to deal withtransition activities and convey them as a representative of the agency,"NASA spokesman Kyle Herring said.

"John Shannon iscompletely ready to take the reins in NASA's most critical program," Halesaid in a statement. "His leadership skills are well established, and theshuttle program will do well under his care."

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Todd Halvoron is a veteran aerospace journalist based in Titusville, Florida who covered NASA and the U.S. space program for 27 years with Florida Today. His coverage for Florida Today also appeared in USA Today, Space.com and 80 other newspapers across the United States. Todd earned a bachelor's degree in English literature, journalism and fiction from the University of Cincinnati and also served as Florida Today's Kennedy Space Center Bureau Chief during his tenure at Florida Today. Halvorson has been an independent aerospace journalist since 2013.