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Biden Space

Here Comes The NASA Biden Away Team

By Keith Cowing
NASA Watch
January 20, 2021
Filed under
Here Comes The NASA Biden Away Team

Message from NASA Acting Administrator Steve Jurczyk and Senior White House Appointee Bhavya Lal
“We have some initial appointments from the new administration: Alicia Brown has been named NASA’s Associate Administrator for Legislative Affairs and Intergovernmental Affairs (OLIA), and Marc Etkind will be the Associate Administrator for Communications. Please join us in giving them a warm welcome to the NASA family. There will be other new faces arriving at Headquarters, and we will communicate these developments with you.”
Bhavya Lal, LinkedIn Twitter
Alicia Brown, LinkedIn Twitter
Marc Etkind, IMDb – Twitter

NASA Watch founder, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA, Away Teams, Journalist, Space & Astrobiology, Lapsed climber.

6 responses to “Here Comes The NASA Biden Away Team”

  1. mmealling says:
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    IMHO, Bhavya would make a good Deputy Administrator…

    • kcowing says:
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      Why not a good Administrator?

      • mmealling says:
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        Because I think that position needs extensive experience with Congress. Administrator manages up and out, Deputy manages down and in. (Although Morhard broke that mold as far as I can tell). The problem with my assertion is that not very many people fit that description.

        Who would you suggest?

        • kcowing says:
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          So only Morhard can break your imaginary rule? Have you even bothered to become familiar with her background? FWIW Bolden and Goldin had zero prior experience with Congress.

          • mmealling says:
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            I am very aware of her background. I’ve been in several conversations with her over the years related to OSTP policy recommendations.

            Morhard breaks my rule because, and this is just a guess on my part, that his appointment had nothing to do with NASA.

            I think the examples of Boldin and Goldin kind of proves my point. Maybe Jim spoiled me but I think someone in Headquarters should know how to work Congress.

          • mmealling says:
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            I’ve known Bhavya for several years and have had in depth conversations with her on various space policy issues. I’ve been a Bhavya fan since 2017.

            Morhard breaks my rule because I’m not sure his appointment to that position had much to do with NASA at all. He certainly wouldn’t have been my choice for that position.

            Bolden and Goldin actually illustrate my point. If Lori hadn’t been there, Bolden, as he himself has admitted, would have kept supporting the program of record. Same with Goldin. Maybe Jim spoiled us but I think Headquarters needs someone that knows how to implement White House policy and how to work Congress. Bhavya has testified to Congress but she (nor anyone else on the transition team as far as I can tell) has never worked with individual Members and staffers to overcome their issues and objections.

            If no one has that skill set that is available or acceptable to the Senate then I would have to go with Kathy Lueders or Pam Melroy for Administrator.