The Problem? Not Enough Outstanding Managers

Why isn't the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland getting more Moon, Mars and Beyond business?

After all, it isn't saddled with the ongoing projects that Johnson Space Center and Marshall Space Flight have to deal with. Glenn certainly has the staff and the physical capabilities. So why won't NASA give Glenn a chance?

The reason, according to two internal NASA memos obtained by the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, is weak management.

The reports say there aren't enough highly-thought-of project managers at Glenn. As for those project managers who do work there... NASA doesn't think they're hungry enough for a piece of the Moon pie.

That's bad news for officials at Glenn who want a big role in developing the service module for the next-generation Crew Exploration Vehicle. Contracts for the CEV could bring at least 300 jobs to Glenn, and more than $2 billion over the life of the project.

The center is currently looking at a 27-percent drop in their budget for the next fiscal year, and 500 of Glenn's 1,900 civil servants are expected to be laid off in the coming year. Those new contracts could bring at least 300 jobs to Glenn, though, and more than $2 billion over the life of the project.

At least one former Glenn employee feels the center is still in the running, though.

"I do think it's on the table," said former deputy director Marty Kress, who now runs the National Space Science and Technology Center in Alabama.

NASA sources say if Glenn can fix its management problems soon, there could still be room for it at the CEV table.

But without a major part of the new project -- others say Glenn could very well wither on the vine.

"Could Glenn by healthy without a major program like service module? I believe the answer to that is no," said Julian Earls, who retired as Glenn's director in December.

FMI: www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/home/index.html