Washington, D.C. - NASA Administrator Charles Bolden announced on Tuesday two major promotions within the space agency. Associate Administrator Chris Scolese was named director of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, and Robert Lightfoot, director of the agency's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, will serve as acting Associate Administrator. Both will assume their new responsibilities on March 5.
Lightfoot joined NASA in 1989 as a test engineer and program manager at Marshall. Lightfoot's deputy, Gene Goldman, will serve as Marshall's acting center director.
"Both Chris and Robert are dedicated public servants who have a passion for NASA and exploration," Bolden said. "We are fortunate to have such talented and experienced leaders who are capable of assuming these critical responsibilities during this important time."
As associate administrator, Lightfoot will be the agency's highest-ranking civil servant, responsible for oversight and integration of NASA's broad efforts in human space flight, science and aeronautics. At Goddard, Scolese will lead a major U.S. laboratory for developing and operating unmanned scientific spacecraft. Goddard manages many of NASA's Earth observation, astronomy and space physics missions. It was established in 1959 as NASA's first space flight facility.
"I am excited with the depth and diversity of experiences Chris and Robert will bring to their new roles," Bolden added. "I know the entire NASA family will wish them continued success as they begin these new challenges."
