Former Director Returns To Help Rebuild

As repairs continue to the Katrina-battered Stennis Space Center near Gulfport, MS, NASA has named a new director for the facility -- someone who is quite familiar with the rebuilding process.

William (Bill) W. Parsons was selected by NASA to immediately succeed retired Rear Admiral Thomas Donaldson, USN. According to a NASA press release, Donaldson is on special assignment with FEMA to help with recovery efforts in Mississippi.

Parsons has worked at Stennis before, first as the chief of operations of the Propulsion Test Directorate in 1997. After briefly relocating to Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX, Parsons returned to Stennis in 2001 to become director of the Center Operations and Support Directorate -- the position he will now hold again.

In May 2003, Parsons became Space Shuttle program manager, leading Return to Flight efforts for the agency.

He played a major role in the shuttle's rebuilding program in the wake of the Columbia tragedy -- including last month's successful STS-114 flight of Discovery.

Parsons has received numerous honors, including NASA's Exceptional Service Medal; the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement; the Silver Snoopy, awarded by astronauts for outstanding performance in flight safety and mission success; the Center Directors' Commendation; and the Commandants Certificate of Commendation from the U.S. Marine Corps.

FMI: www.nasa.gov