Fri, Aug 19, 2011
Succeeds Bryan O'Connor As Chief Of Office of Safety And
Mission Assurance
NASA reports Terrence W. Wilcutt has been appointed the agency's
chief of safety and mission assurance, effective September 1.
Wilcutt is a retired Marine colonel and veteran astronaut who is
serving as director of safety and mission assurance at NASA's
Johnson Space Center in Houston. He will assume the post from Bryan
O'Connor, who will retire from the agency on August 31.
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden commented, "As NASA looks
beyond the space shuttle to new programs of human exploration,
technology development and scientific research, we remain committed
to the highest standards for mission success and the well-being of
our work force. Terry Wilcutt has more than 20 years of experience
in human spaceflight and safety, as well as the integrity and
courage necessary to lead what arguably is NASA's most important
support organization, the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance,
and serve as my conscience on issues of safety as did Bryan
O'Connor during our time together. I am delighted Terry stepped
forward to guide us safely into the future."
In his new role, Wilcutt will be responsible for the
development, implementation and oversight of safety and mission
assurance policies and procedures for all NASA programs.
"I look forward to continuing Bryan's work and to meeting the
challenges of the next chapter in human space exploration as well
as the rest of NASA's diverse portfolio," Wilcutt said.
Wilcutt joined NASA as an astronaut in 1990. He was the pilot on
two space shuttle missions, STS-68 in 1994 and STS-79 in 1996. He
commanded two others, STS-89 in 1998 and STS-106 in 2000. He served
as manager of safety and mission assurance for the Space Shuttle
Program, and as Johnson's deputy director of safety and mission
assurance before becoming director in 2008.
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