Author Topic: Mike Griffin leaves NASA (Read 59915 times)

Chris Bergin · « **on:** 01/07/2009 12:42 am »

There's an all hands at JSC on Friday with Mike Griffin where he will announce he is being replaced by Chris Scolese - who will be interim admin until a replacement (likely Charles Bolden) is appointed.

Heard the above ourselves, but on checking if anyone else had it, noticed the Sentinel has already run with it (without the all hands reference - don't know if that's enough for an article ourselves, with Discovery's rollover in less than 12 hours...)

Made it into a standalone thread.

docmordrid · « **Reply #1 on:** 01/07/2009 12:46 am »

OS article;

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_space_thewritestuff/2009/01/nasa-mike-griff.html

Charlie Bolden's bio @ WikiPedia....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bolden

robertross · « **Reply #2 on:** 01/07/2009 12:59 am »

So much for my pick (Lori Garver). If indeed it is true, all the best Charlie!

pssst: Direct

Seattle Dave · « **Reply #3 on:** 01/07/2009 01:34 am »

What about Direct, this means nothing and also one of the NASA guys on L2 just said he's very pro-Ares. He's also likely to be great for Shuttle extension and manned space flight direction for NASA.

kraisee · « **Reply #4 on:** 01/07/2009 01:39 am »

Can I please make a request to everyone: Any DIRECT-related discussions related to this need to go in a separate thread. I don't want this thread to be hijacked.

Thank-you.

Ross.

Ford Mustang · « **Reply #5 on:** 01/07/2009 01:45 am »

Quote from: kraisee on 01/07/2009 01:39 am

Can I please make a request to everyone: Any DIRECT-related discussions related to this need to go in a separate thread. I don't want this thread to be hijacked.

Thank you. If it gets too out of hands, we will delete it back or move it to the appropriate thread.

Forum for DIRECT: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=37.0

robertross · « **Reply #6 on:** 01/07/2009 01:45 am »

Quote from: kraisee on 01/07/2009 01:39 am

Can I please make a request to everyone: Any DIRECT-related discussions related to this need to go in a separate thread. I don't want this thread to be hijacked.

Thank-you.

Ross.

Good man. Let's ring up the Direct post counter

EDIT: Moved to the proper thread

AresWatcher · « **Reply #7 on:** 01/07/2009 01:55 am »

So much for the online petition

marsavian · « **Reply #8 on:** 01/07/2009 01:56 am »

It was crass.

marsavian · « **Reply #9 on:** 01/07/2009 02:21 am »

How about this for a scenario ... Lori and the new Administrator look under the hood, find they want to keep Ares I and Mike Griffin is kept on in an Engineering role (which he would prefer) ? Unlikely but could theoretically happen. What's more likely to happen though is an EELV/SDLV hybrid VSE implementation.

Nascent Ascent · « **Reply #10 on:** 01/07/2009 02:31 am »

Bolden?

A distinguished major general and astronaut, but not what I would have expected as an Administrator.

antonioe · « **Reply #11 on:** 01/07/2009 04:36 am »

Quote from: Nascent Ascent on 01/07/2009 02:31 am

Bolden?

A distinguished major general and astronaut, but not what I would have expected as an Administrator.

I know as a fact that Mike Griffin thinks a lot of Charlie Bolden. I would not be surprised if Mike himself recommended him. I had the privilege of serving with Charlie on an NRC Naval Studies Board panel a few years ago. He's a unique combination of friendly but self-effacing. I have been told that people that work for him would jump out a window if Charlie Bolden asked them to. And he has no political leanings whatsoever.

I seem to remember that a few years ago he had the opportunity to get an Associate Administrator position at NASA, but SECDEF Rumsfeld raised Bloody Hell arguing that he could not spare one of his best flags in the middle of a war - so we all expected him to get his third star and a major command. Then, after complaining and blocking his NASA appointment, Rummy put him on some secondary position... what a waste of talent!

Carl G · « **Reply #12 on:** 01/07/2009 04:45 am »

I'd like to thank Mr Griffin for his service to NASA. Might not agree with some of his policies, but still did his best for the Agency.

DarthVader · « **Reply #13 on:** 01/07/2009 04:47 am »

Wow! .... what about Wayne Hale as the next admin?

antonioe · « **Reply #14 on:** 01/07/2009 04:51 am »

Quote from: marsavian on 01/07/2009 02:21 am

How about this for a scenario ... Lori and the new Administrator look under the hood, find they want to keep Ares I and Mike Griffin is kept on in an Engineering role.

Extraordinarily difficult: Mike is Testa Coronata.

kraisee · « **Reply #15 on:** 01/07/2009 05:25 am »

There was a call a while ago for the next Administrator to clean the agency up in the same way Robert Gates did over at DoD.

Charlie Bolden is a military man, so I'd venture to say he probably has a very low tolerance for BS. On first acquaintance, I think he might turn out to be just what the doctor ordered.

Ross.

Khadgars · « **Reply #16 on:** 01/07/2009 05:33 am »

Quote from: Carl G on 01/07/2009 04:45 am

I'd like to thank Mr Griffin for his service to NASA. Might not agree with some of his policies, but still did his best for the Agency.

Agreed, Mike was in charge during some very difficult times for NASA and he did an excellent job handling most situations. We owe him nothing but our thanks for his service.

Nathan · « **Reply #17 on:** 01/07/2009 06:06 am »

given that Mike said he would leave if Ares 1 was cancelled - does this mean it was cancelled?

docmordrid · « **Reply #18 on:** 01/07/2009 06:22 am »

Not necessarily, but it does mean he recognized the writing on the wall - especially after that horrid "Keep Mike!" campaign made people cringe.

Analyst · « **Reply #19 on:** 01/07/2009 08:26 am »

Griffin has to go - this is a good move. Period. If his replacement will be better for

- the long term development of NASA,
- for a balanced NASA portfolio,
- in hard economic times,
- with bold but fundable goals

has to be seen. I really don't know. Many praised Griffin when he was selected and wish him to hell today. Now they praise Bolden etc. Time will tell. Initial actions will be an indicator. Direction and oversight from Congress / President will be important.

Analyst