Personnel News: April 2006 Archives

NASA LaRC Internal Memo: Early Out Authority

"Voluntary early retirement ("early out") authority was approved for Langley in connection with the FY 06 buyout. When our buyout window closed on January 3, 2006, our authority to offer early out retirements expired as well. Recently, however, NASA HQ informed Centers that early out authority would be available though the end of this FY. Langley requested early out authority from May 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006 and our request was approved."

IFPTE Urges Congress to Save NASA Science and Aeronautics

"In particular, the union took issue with NASA's proposed shortfalls in the Aeronautics and the Science funding, as well as NASA's failure to provide a Workforce Strategy with sufficient content to justify the continued planning for a Reduction-in-Force (RIF) next year."

NASA Names Pete Worden To Be New Ames Research Center Director

"NASA Administrator Michael Griffin announced Friday that Simon P. "Pete" Worden will be the next director of NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffet Field, Calif. Worden, a retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general, is a research professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona, Tucson."

Editor's earlier note: The paperwork is complete - Pete Worden (USAF Bio) will be the next Center Director at ARC. A formal announcement is expected very soon.

Scott Hubbard to Depart ARC - Pete Worden to Take Over, 15 December 2005 post

Space trailblazer Rechtin dies, Pasadena Star News

"Eberhardt Rechtin, a pioneer in deep space research and former assistant director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, died Friday after a long illness. He was 80."

Editor's note: Word has it that Michael Hecker, Constellation Systems Division's Program Executive at NASA ESMD, is leaving.

NASA Glenn budget leaves workers vulnerable, Cleveland Plain Dealer

"NASA Glenn Research Center's budget can't cover the work of almost 270 workers, about one-sixth of the full-time employees at the center. "We've been sitting around for six months with nothing to do - nothing that's funded," says Sheila Bailey, a 20-year veteran at the center who has a doctorate and works with solar cells for space power applications."

Editor's note: NASA HQ sources report that Assistant Administrator Diversity and Equal Opportunity Dorothy Hayden-Watkins was escorted out of the building by NASA security personnel late last week. No reason has been given. I have submitted a formal request to NASA PAO for comment.

Editor's update: According to Dean Acosta at PAO "As per NASA policy, we do not comment on personnel matters."