James Morhard Nomination Hearing
Nomination Hearing: James Morhard for NASA Deputy Administrator
“U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a hearing at 10: 15 a.m. on Thursday, August 23, 2018, to consider three presidential nominees.”
Morhard’s response to questions from the committee
Watch Live
Testimony: Mr. James “Jim” Morhard, of Virginia, to be Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
“I believe transformational leadership and the empowerment and strength of partnering, will ensure a new era for America’s space programs, advance scientific knowledge for the Earth, and inspire a new generation to enter the STEM fields. If confirmed, it would be my highest honor to help NASA in these endeavors. This is the time.”
He has a law degree however virtually all his experience has been in various congressional staff positions. So neither the Administrator nor the Deputy has any actual space program, scientific, or technical experience. His emphasis on Federal Aquisition Regulations seems to indicate opposition to using Space Act Agreements for major programs, without which it is difficult to see how companies like SpaceX could actually have had the flexibility to be innovative.