Griffin: Speaking for the Agency

NASA Strategic Management Council Meeting Minutes and Actions 21 February 2007: “Griffin made the following opening comment: – On speaking for the Agency: Griffin urged members (and through members all of NASA) to be clear when expressing a personal opinion versus an Agency position. He offered a recent example where an astronaut publicly advocated for technology development that directly conflicts with Agency plans.”

“He pointed out that it may not be possible for an active astronaut to publicly voice an opinion that is not taken as Agency policy. Griffin encouraged all NASA employees to write and publish technical papers, but reminded members that there is a difference between a professional technical debate and political discourse. To engage in political discourse, a NASA employee has to take off his/her badge.”