Letter from Adm. Gehman to Sean O’Keefe Regarding CAIB Request for Personnel Reassignments

Chairman

Columbia Accident Investigation Board

16850 Saturn Lane, Houston, TX 77058

Ser CAIB/031

25 Feb 2003

Dear Mr. O’Keefe,

On behalf of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, we wish to express our thanks for the fine cooperation provided to the board by all levels of NASA. We met motivated and talented people who want to find out what happened to the Shuttle Columbia and its crew as much as we do.

Now that the initial recovery and response actions are behind us and operations are more predictable and manageable, the Board requests that you reassign the top level Space Shuttle Program management personnel who were involved in the preparation and operation of the flight of STS 107 back to their duties and remove them from directly managing or supporting the investigation. We believe it is in the best interest of these key people, NASA and the effective progress of the investigation if they were to be replaced by other knowledgeable people to manage the response and investigation support.

Sincerely,

H.W. GEHMAN

Admiral, U.S. Navy (Retired)

Chairman

Columbia Accident Investigation Board

The Honorable Sean O’Keefe

Adminstrator

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Washington, DC 20546-0001