Dan Goldin Bids Farewell to NASA
In a manner befitting his overtly personal style of management, Dan Goldin stepped down as Administrator of NASA today. After a short introduction, a standing room only audience at NASA headquarters (and employees across the nation via television) watched a fancy video presentation highlighting the events that shaped “the Goldin Years”.
To add to the aura of the presentation, none other than venerable space icon Walter Chronkite served as narrator. Every facet of what NASA does got some air time.
When the presentation was completed one was left with the impression that it was Dan Goldin – and Dan Goldin alone who made all of the wonderful things happen. Indeed, with no mention whatsoever of mission failures or cost overruns, you’d think his tenure was smooth and without problems.
Referring to Goldin’s tenure at NASA, Associate Deputy Administrator Dan Mulville said “his hand at the helm has been steady. There has been no greater champion – no greater cheerleader at NASA”. Noting that it is a time honored military tradition for a retiring commander to be presented with the unit’s colors, Mulville said “I present you with the NASA Administrator’s flag that has been with you since 1992.” A few minutes later Mulville awarded Goldin the NASA Distinguished Service Medal – an honor normally bestowed by the Administrator upon someone else.
NASA Public Affairs Chief Glenn Mahone then introduced a series TV clips “taken from around the agency” of people expressing their thoughts about Mr. Goldin. What followed was actually a series of short clips taken only at NASA HQ of all of his Associate Administrators and Senior Advisors. Most of the comments were general wishes for a happy retirement and for more time with his family. Others were more detailed – and some were rather humorous.
Chief of Staff and White House liaison Courtney Stadd referred to Goldin as “a mentor and a teacher and a great role model as administrator for this agency.” Stadd went on to say “I think we are a better country because of Dan’s leadership. Sue Garman then appeared holding (barely) with a huge pile of paper action items. NASA Inspector General Roberta Gross gave Goldin an official OIG Fraud Hotline poster. Office of Biological and Physical Research Associate Administrator Kathie Olsen said that she “looked forward to having Goldin chair a task Force at NASA.”
After some more comments from the podium, additinal taped comments followed – this time from the NASA Field centers. For the most part only the Center Directors spoke. Some were generic in their comments. Others were downright hilarious.
Johnson Space Center Director Roy Estess appeared in full cowboy regalia in front of former center director George Abbey’s herd of longhorn cattle. Kennedy Space Center employees pretended to launch a large hobby rocket with Goldin hanging on for dear life as it streaked into the sky and circled the Earth. Marshall Space Flight Center Director Art Stephenson and some of his employees sang (badly) a “Cheaper – Better – Faster” version of “I did it my way.”
Langley Research Center Director Jeremiah Creedon spoke of eliminating the infamous NASA “worm logo” – a pet obsession of Mr. Goldin’s. Creedon said that he and his staff were “redoubling our efforts. There is one last worm at the center – and we have found it. Sadly, it is in a wall decoration on the wall in my own office.” Then as Creedon continue several people came in and removed the offending worm logo – and every other award in Creedon’s office (which had been connected together as a stage prop) in one swift action. Creedon beamed proudly that Langley was now “a totally worm free center.”
Last up was Goddard Space Flight Center Director Al Diaz. Diaz started out hopelessly deadpan and official looking as he sat at his desk and rambled off all of the great things that had been done under Goldin’s tenure. After a few minutes he stood up and suggested that his employees weren’t always so serious. As he did, outside the window behind him a gigantic NASA Worm logo sign was being hoisted up by a crane as if being replaced atop the Center’s Headquarters building. Diaz quickly closed the curtains and looked suitably embarrassed. This was followed by a giant animated worm logo spinning high over the Goddard campus.
Goldin then spoke. He quoted the philosopher Cervantes who said – “he who loses wealth loses much. He who loses a friend loses more. But he who loses courage loses all”. Goldin said that this is something that everyone who works on America’s space program needs to think about. “You are the privileged few who get to fight in the arena of scientific combat and scientific truth. You need to believe in yourself. Only you know what your capacity is.” Goldin then took on the media and those who appear in it saying “they do not know the sweetness of success or the bitterness of failure.
Goldin advised NASA employees to be wary of the media. “You’ve got to believe in yourselves, and only you know what your own capacity is – not the critics who sit in the stands and do nothing except look at what you’re doing and write in newspapers, speak in the media or testify before the Congress.”
Goldin’s advice: “don’t succumb to criticism if you believe you’re right. That’s what this agency is about. Don’t listen to the stuff in the newspapers or on the TV. They’re main approach is to sell papers and TV time.”
“Freedom of the press is essential. The scrutiny of the press is essential. But you don’t have to listen to them if don’t believe they’re right. You don’t have to respond to it. They way you respond is by overcoming the difficulties.” Goldin said that one way people might respond to such criticism is to only set mediocre goals “so that you will always have success and not be criticized”. That would be a mistake Goldin said. “Be bold and don’t fear failure. Mediocre goals are poison.”
Speaking about his successor Goldin said “On Saturday night I am going to hand the lease of NASA back to the President. I have known Sean O’Keefe for a decade. He will be the Administrator of NASA and he will need your support to make sure that the agency is important. It is not important who leaves the agency: the person who leads cannot do so without your support.” He added “don’t listen to the words of the critics. Listen to the words of Sean O’Keefe.”
Goldin then closed by reading from the poem “The Road not taken” by Robert Frost. The poem ends with the line “I took the one less traveled by and that made all the difference.” Goldin added “Thank you very much for a great run.”
