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Author
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Topic: Former shuttle program manager Wayne Hale retires from NASA
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-07-2010 11:55 AM
   
NASA's Deputy Associate Administrator for Strategic Partnerships Wayne Hale, who is a former flight director and space shuttle program manager, has announced on his blog that he is retiring from the space agency. After long consideration I have filed my retirement papers and will be leaving NASA and the US Civil Service on July 31. Let me hasten to add that this is a personal decision based mainly on family considerations -- which I needn't enumerate here today.Working at NASA has been a lifelong dream; I often tell people that I would have paid them to let me in the door rather than the other way around. It has been a privilege and an honor to work in this place and with these people. The achievements that we have made together will have lasting significance for all humankind. I want to especially thank my many wonderful co-workers who are so dedicated, innovative, and hard working. I wish them every success in the future with all my heart. I have a few days left, I may even post another blog or two. But for today I leave you with a passage that summarizes feelings so similar to my own that it is uncanny. Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) wrote a wonderful book about his favorite career as a steamboat pilot, "Life on the Mississippi." It is enormously funny, but taking a reflective turn this serious passage summarizes - far better than I could - the feelings of any professional at the end of a long and wonderful career. So make the translation from rockets to steamboats and read all the way to the end... |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 07-07-2010 12:05 PM
Sad to hear...what a huge loss to the NASA family! |
space4u
Member Posts: 323
From: Cleveland, OH USA
Registered: Aug 2006
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posted 07-07-2010 02:19 PM
Not surprised by this but sure hope Mr. Hale writes a book about his days at NASA. Based just on his blog and his experiences, I'm sure he has quite a lot to say! |
ejectr
Member Posts: 1751
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 07-07-2010 05:04 PM
Thank you Mr. Hale for your service and as a taxpayer, just let me say the pleasure was all mine.You did us well. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-07-2010 05:51 PM
Ditto many of the above comments. I await Mr Hale's candid assessment of the state of the US Space Program and his rational for effecting a relatively early retirement from NASA and the Civil Service. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2476
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 07-08-2010 06:03 AM
Mr. Hale was always a great addition to any press conference or presentation. His way of describing events or possible scenarios left you thinking "now I understand." He is an asset to the technical community and I hope he will consider consultant work through his retirement. I would be a shame to let all of those years of knowledge and experience fad away into history. Thank you again Mr Hale. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 07-08-2010 10:43 AM
Good luck and thanks for the memories. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-02-2010 11:29 AM
Special Aerospace Services release N. Wayne Hale, Jr. Joins Special Aerospace ServicesSpecial Aerospace Services (SAS) of Boulder, Colorado, is pleased to announce that N. Wayne Hale, Jr. has joined SAS as Director of Human Spaceflight Programs. Mr. Hale brings comprehensive experience in the field of human spaceflight following a career of more than 30 years with NASA. As one of his many instrumental assignments at NASA, Mr. Hale served as Program Manager for NASA's Space Shuttle Program during the critical period following the Columbia accident, where his leadership significantly contributed to the return of the space shuttle to flight operations. Prior to that, Mr. Hale served as a Space Shuttle Flight Director for 40 missions during 15 years. Most recently Mr. Hale served as NASA's Deputy Associate Administrator for Strategic Partnerships in Space Operations. "Wayne brings expertise in program management, NASA procurement, federal budget development, national space policy development, international relationships between space agencies, organizational culture change and interagency relationships. This expertise is critical for our clients' development programs and SAS' current national and international programs. We are honored to have Wayne join our team." states Heather Bulk, President and CEO of SAS. Special Aerospace Services provides expertise in Complex Space Systems Program Management, Launch System Development, Responsive Spacecraft Operations, International Strategic Weapons Demilitarization, Human Spaceflight Safety Services, and Mission Assurance Services for Commercial and US Government Programs. |
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