Choice Of Jonathan Scott Gration Draws Criticism From Florida Senator

Recent reports of comments attributed to NASA Administrator Michael Griffin have made it clear he doesn't expect to hold the post after Inauguration Day. The former rocket scientist has been criticized by some, called a genius by others... but has certainly been unafraid to ruffle feathers and has, at times, eloquently skewered his critics in public statements.

Now, MSNBC reports President-elect Obama, who campaigned on a promise to make space exploration a lower priority, has chosen a replacement for the sometimes colorful Griffin.

Retired Air Force Major General Jonathan Scott Gration is a decorated jet fighter pilot reared by missionary parents in Africa, and who reportedly spoke Swahili before he did English. He'll reportedly be Obama's choice to head NASA.

Mention of Gration's name is already drawing fire, even from within the Democratic Party.

Former astronaut and current Florida senior Senator Bill Nelson, who actively campaigned with Obama, apparently takes a dim view of Gration's lack of space-program experience. The expected nominee's only role with NASA came in 1982 as a White House Fellow for NASA's deputy administrator Hans Mark.

Senator Nelson's comment upon hearing of Gration's likely nomination was, "I think President Bush made a mistake when he appointed someone without NASA experience in Sean O'Keefe to head the agency." O'Keefe was the NASA Administrator who ended up resigning after the Columbia disaster.

If the new president hopes for a smooth confirmation process for Gration, he'd do well to get the Florida senator on board. Nelson is the chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Space, Aeronautics, and Related Sciences, which will be charged with evaluating Gration's credentials before the full Senate is asked to confirm.

FMI: www.nasa.gov