Bob Jacobs
Headquarters, Washington        July 11, 2002
(Phone: 202/358-1600)

RELEASE: 02-124

WHITE HOUSE FORMALLY NOMINATES FREDERICK GREGORY
AS NASA DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR

     NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe today said the White 
House has officially presented the U.S. Senate with the 
nomination of Frederick D. Gregory, astronaut and Associate 
Administrator for Space Flight, as the next NASA Deputy 
Administrator. Gregory is a veteran Space Shuttle Commander 
and former U.S. Air Force combat pilot, and currently leads 
NASA's human space flight endeavors.

If confirmed as Deputy Administrator, Gregory will serve as 
the chief operating officer for the agency and report 
directly to Administrator O'Keefe. He will be responsible for 
directing and managing many of the programs, as well as day-
to-day operations and activities, at NASA. But first, the 
Senate Commerce Committee must consider the nomination and 
make its recommendation to the full Senate.

"I am pleased to hear that Chairman Hollings has received the 
President's nomination and grateful that his committee is 
prepared to give consideration expeditiously," said 
Administrator O'Keefe. "I look forward to Fred assuming his 
new role at this critical point in NASA's history, and I 
thank Senator Hollings and his colleagues for their mindful 
stewardship of the interests of this agency."

Senator Hollings, a seven-term Democrat from South Carolina, 
serves as Chairman of the Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation Committee, and is the fifth most senior member 
of the Senate.

Before being named to his current position in December 2001, 
Gregory served as Associate Administrator for the Office of 
Safety and Mission Assurance and was charged with the 
oversight of all safety issues within NASA. He developed, 
implemented and managed quality assurance policies that dealt 
with reliability and maintainability.

As a NASA astronaut, Gregory logged more than 455 hours in 
space during three shuttle missions. In 1985, he served as 
pilot on board Challenger during STS-51B. Gregory was mission 
commander for STS-33 in 1989 and STS-44 in 1991.

Gregory was selected as an astronaut in 1978, after a 
distinguished career with the U.S. Air Force. He logged 
nearly 7,000 hours in 50 types of aircraft, including 550 
combat missions over Vietnam. He retired as a Colonel in 
December 1993.

Gregory has been awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, 
two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Defense Meritorious 
Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, 16 Air Medals, 
The Air Force Commendation Medal and three NASA Space Flight 
medals.

His honors also include the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, 
the NASA Outstanding Leadership Award, the National Society 
of Black Engineers Distinguished National Scientist Award, 
the George Washington University Distinguished Alumni Award 
and an "Ira Eaker Fellow" by the Air Force Association.

Additional information about Gregory is available on the 
Internet at:

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/fredbio.html

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