Departs Ahead Of Incoming Presidential Administration

A top-level NASA official will join the throngs of politicians and other employees leaving Washington, DC ahead of the new presidential administration. NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale announced Wednesday her intent to resign from the agency, effective January 17, 2009, in advance of Barack Obama's inauguration.

Dale has served as NASA's second-in-command since November 2005.

"It has been an honor for me to work with those who support America's space program," Dale said. "It is a highly dedicated group, made up of individuals who share a deep passion for the missions of the agency. I will miss the cutting-edge missions, but most of all I will miss the incredibly talented people of NASA. It is a great team to be a part of, and I look forward to watching and cheering on the amazing accomplishments that are yet to come."

Dale's previous experience includes working for the US House of Representatives, the University of Texas system, the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy, and law firms in California. NASA says Hale is "planning to enjoy time off with her family in January and February and consider options for the next phase of her career."

"It has been an honor and a privilege to work with Shana for these last three years," NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said. "I have benefited from her insightful and perceptive analysis in a host of difficult situations. Her long experience on Capitol Hill and in the White House has been a perfect complement to my own background, and enabled us to function as a team in managing NASA far more effectively than either of us would have done alone. Being a deputy is a very difficult job, and Shana has handled it superbly. She has offered incisive and perceptive analysis in a host of difficult situations, never hesitating to disagree with a prevailing opinion when that was the thing to do, but always supporting a final decision. I will miss her."

It's unclear whether -- or when -- Griffin may follow Dale out the door. He was named NASA Administrator by President George W. Bush in April 2005.

FMI: www.nasa.gov