NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe has announced the
members of the Space Shuttle Mishap Interagency Investigation
Board, which will provide an independent review of the events and
activities that led up to the tragic loss of the seven astronauts
Saturday on board the Space Shuttle Columbia.
The board's first meeting is scheduled for Monday at Barksdale
Air Force Base in Louisiana.
Retired U.S. Navy Admiral Harold W. Gehman, Jr., who co-chaired
the independent commission that investigated the attack on the
U.S.S. Cole in Aden, Yemen, Oct. 12, 2000, and once served as the
commander-in-chief of U.S. Joint Forces Command, will chair the
panel.
"While the NASA family and the entire world mourn the loss of
our colleagues, we have a responsibility to quickly move forward
with an external assessment to determine exactly what happened and
why," said Administrator O'Keefe. "We're honored to have such a
distinguished panel of experts, led by Admiral Gehman."
Other members of the investigative board includes:
- Rear Admiral Stephen Turcotte, Commander, U.S. Naval Safety
Center, Norfolk, Va.
- Major General John L. Barry, Director, Plans and Programs,
Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force
Base, Ohio
- Major General Kenneth W. Hess, Commander, U.S. Air Force Chief
of Safety, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
- Dr. James N. Hallock, Aviation Safety Division Chief, U.S.
Department of Transportation, Cambridge, Mass.
- Steven B. Wallace, Director of Accident Investigation, Federal
Aviation Administration, Washington
- Brigadier General Duane Deal, Commander 21st Space Wing,
Peterson Air Foce Base, Colo.
Several senior NASA leaders also will be a part of the panel,
including G. Scott Hubbard, Director, NASA Ames Research Center,
Moffett Field, Calif. Bryan D. O'Connor, NASA Associate
Administrator and former astronaut, Office of Safety and Mission
Assurance, Headquarters, will serve as Ex-Officio Member, and
Theron Bradley, Jr., NASA Chief Engineer, NASA Headquarters,
Washington, will be Executive Secretary.
"We need to be responsible, accountable, and extremely thorough
in this investigation," added Administrator O'Keefe. "This panel is
charged with a most difficult task, but I am confident in their
ability, their integrity, and their dedication to doing what's
right. Their findings will help push America's space program
successfully into the future."
"Currently, NASA is beginning an internal investigation, drawing
on the extensive expertise throughout the agency. Public officials
for NASA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other
federal, state, and local entities are coordinating talents to help
find the cause of this tragedy," concluded Administrator
O'Keefe
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