Bill Livingstone Headquarters, Washington, D.C. November 3, 1992 (Phone: 202/453-1898) RELEASE: 92-194 PELLERIN, DAILEY AND THOMAS TO FILL TOP POSITIONS AT NASA NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin today announced the appointment of Dr. Charles Pellerin as Associate Deputy Administrator for Strategic Planning, John R. Dailey as Associate Deputy Administrator and Ralph C. Thomas as Assistant Administrator for Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization. Dailey and Thomas were selected after a nation-wide search and review. Charles Pellerin Pellerin, who has been with NASA for some 25 years, most recently was Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety and Mission Quality. "Dr. Pellerin has a broad knowledge of NASA and will be responsible for creating a strategic plan to implement the agency's vision, mission and values," Goldin said. "He also will direct and oversee key elements of the strategic plan." Pellerin first came to NASA Headquarters in 1975 to assist in the planning for Shuttle utilization. He later managed the integration of payloads for the Space Shuttle. And in 1982, he moved to the Astrophysics Division, where he helped initiate a series of astrophysics telescopes called the "Great Observatories." He began his career at the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., as an aerospace engineer. There, he developed and patented a magnetomoter that has been used in sounding rockets and commercially at airports. Pellerin has a Ph.D. in physics from Catholic University, Washington, D.C., and a B.S. in physics from Drexel University in Philadelphia. Jack Dailey Jack Dailey will plan, direct and manage the institutional operations required to accomplish NASA's roles and missions. He comes to NASA from the Marine Corps, having retired in September 1992, from the position of Assistant Commandant. "Jack Dailey brings a remarkable background in system acquisition, strategic planning, total quality management and experience in the operation of government at its highest levels," Goldin said. Dailey graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1956, afterwards entering the Marine Corps as a pilot. In 1975, he returned to school, graduating from the National War College. Dailey served as President of the Armed Forces Staff College from 1987-89, which is part of the National Defense University. He also held senior positions in research, development and acquisition before assuming the duties of Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps in August 1990. Ralph Thomas Thomas, who has been the Executive Director of the National Association of Minority Contractors since August 1985, will become the first Assistant Administrator for Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization -- a division recently elevated in stature to ensure NASA reflects the full diversity of America. "Ralph Thomas will spearhead a determined effort to see that small and minority-owned businesses play a significant role in America's civil space and aeronautics programs," Goldin said. Thomas graduated with honors from the University of California, Berkeley, in June 1975. He received a law degree from Harvard Law School in June 1978. After working in a law firm for 2 years, Thomas became an instructor in clinical law at George Washington University National Law Center in Washington, D.C. In elevating the position, Goldin has emphasized these major goals: o Establish a NASA Minority Business Resource Advisory Committee to help identify more businesses that should be part of the NASA family; o Establish firm percentages for small and disadvantaged business subcontracting as part of prime contracts; o Make use of small and disadvantaged business subcontracting as an important evaluation factor in every source selection and; o Reward prime contractors with special award fees when they exceed their subcontracting goals by certain percentages.