NASA Fills Key Space Flight Positions

Melissa Mathews
Headquarters, Washington
(Phone: 202/358-1272)

Eileen Hawley
Johnson Space Center, Houston
(Phone: 281/483-5111)


March 3, 2004
RELEASE : 04-080


NASA Fills Key Space Flight Positions

Two veteran astronauts have been named to key space flight posts at NASA's
Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston. Robert Cabana (Colonel, USMC, Ret.),
who has flown on four Space Shuttle flights, has been named JSC Deputy
Director. Kenneth Bowersox (Captain, USN), who recently commanded the sixth
expedition to the International Space Station, will replace Cabana as
Director of Flight Crew Operations.

Cabana takes over from Brock "Randy" Stone, who is retiring after a
remarkable 36-year NASA career that included work on the Apollo lunar
missions, Skylab, the Space Shuttle, and the International Space Station.

"These two appointments really enhance the strong team we have leading us
into the Space Shuttle's return to flight and continuing Space Station
operations," said William Readdy, NASA's Associate Administrator for Space
Flight.

"Bob and Ken bring a wealth of experience in human space flight and an
understanding of the importance of space exploration. Their leadership will
help us as we move forward in our journey of discovery," said Jefferson D.
Howell, Jr., JSC Director. "As for Randy, I will miss him both personally
and professionally. All of us wish Randy and his family the best in his
retirement," Howell said.

A native Texan, Stone began his career with NASA in 1967, when JSC was known
as the Manned Spacecraft Center. He started out working as a systems
engineer supporting landing and recovery of the Apollo spacecraft.

He was a flight controller and flight director in NASA's Mission Control
Center for almost 30 years and was named Chief of the Flight Director Office
in 1989. From 1992 to 2001, he served as Director of Mission Operations,
responsible for oversight of Space Station and Space Shuttle missions before
assuming the role of Associate Director, Management (acting). He was named
Deputy Director in November 2001.

Cabana was selected as an astronaut in 1985, flying twice as a Space Shuttle
pilot and twice as commander, accumulating more than 1,000 hours in space.
Cabana served in a number of management positions supporting the astronaut
office and the International Space Station program, as well as serving as
NASA liaison to the Russian space agency. He is a native of Minnesota and a
1971 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.

Bowersox is from Indiana and earned degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy and
Columbia University. He joined NASA in 1987 and has flown on five space
flight missions, including two to the Hubble Space Telescope. He spent more
than five months on board the International Space Station as Commander of
Expedition 6, returning safely to Earth last May. Bowersox will manage
NASA's astronaut corps and aircraft operations at JSC.

For information about NASA and agency programs on the Internet, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov

For additional biographical information on Cabana or Bowersox on the
Internet, visit:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio.html




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Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info