Minutes of Senior Staff and Center Directors’ Meeting 16 October 2000

The following documents the discussions addressed at the Senior Staff and
Center Directors’ Meeting on October 16, 2000. Mr. Goldin did not attend
the meeting. Action assignments have been placed in brackets [ ] for easy
identification.

1. AA Reports

B/Holz: Mr. Holz reported on the following: 1) Last Friday, the President
signed a new Continuing Resolution to cover operations through October 20.
We issued the Resources Authority Warrants (also called 506 greens) and
allotments for salaries, expenses, and travel. Other 506 greens will be
issued for the interim period based on the requests of the Program Offices.
2) Hearings on the FY 2002 budget with the Office of Management and Budget
will start this Wednesday with the Comptroller’s overview. Next week,
Shuttle, Space Operations, and the Education program hearings are
scheduled. The following week–the week beginning October 30–most of the
other hearings will be held.

M/Rothenberg: Mr. Rothenberg thanked all who participated in and
contributed to the success of the STS-92 mission.

AE/Hudkins: Mr. Hudkins thanked DFRC for hosting the Engineering
Management Council meeting last week (October 10-12).

J/Sutton: Mr. Sutton reported on the status of security at NASA. Due to
recent events in the Middle East, the THREATCON level at NASA Installations
has been raised to Bravo from Alpha status.

AS/Olsen: Dr. Olsen reported that the Presidential Early Career Awards for
Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday,
October 24, in the Headquarters Auditorium.

L/Heffernan: Mr. Heffernan reported on the following items: 1) The
Authorization bill passed the Senate on Friday. The bill is now on its
way to the President for signature. 2) The Appropriations Conference
Report will be voted on by the House this Wednesday or Thursday. We hope
to have a final bill by the end of this week. Do not count on anything
until it is official. The bill could still change. (Note: NASA’s
Appropriation was signed by the President on October 27. 3) Edward Frankle
(General Counsel) and Mike Hawes (Office of Space Flight) testified before
the House International Affairs Committee on Thursday regarding H.R. 1883.

C/Christensen: Mr. Christensen reminded everyone about the Headquarters
Annual Awards Ceremony, scheduled for Wednesday, October 18, in the
Headquarters Auditorium. He also reminded everyone to contribute to the
Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). (Note: The CFC has been extended to
October 31 at NASA Headquarters.)

AC/Armstrong: Gen. Armstrong reminded everyone about the NASA-University
Cyber Conference that will be simulcast from 1-4 p.m., on Thursday, October
19, in the Headquarters Auditorium and on NASA TV.

I/Schumacher: Mr. Schumacher reported on the following items: 1) Two
Department of State public announcements provide worldwide caution
regarding foreign travel and deferment of travel to Israel, the West Bank,
and Gaza. In the first report, the Department of State is extremely
concerned about the possibility for violent actions against U.S. citizens
and interests throughout the world. Several U.S. embassies, including
Damascus and Brussels, have recently been the targets of violent
anti-American demonstrations. On October 12, 2000, several American
citizens were killed, and many more were injured in an incident involving a
U.S. Navy ship (USS Cole) in port in Aden, Yemen, in what may have been a
terrorist attack. In addition, anti-American demonstrations continue to
take place in countries throughout the world in response to tensions and
violence in the Middle East. Some of these demonstrations have become
violent and difficult for local authorities to control. U.S. citizens are
urged to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps
to increase their security awareness to reduce their vulnerability.
Americans should maintain a low profile, vary routes and times for all
required travel, and treat mail from unfamiliar sources with suspicion. As
always, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should contact the nearest U.S.
embassy or consulate by telephone or fax for up-to-date information on
security conditions. U.S. Government personnel overseas have been advised
to take the same precautions. In addition, U.S. Government facilities have
and will continue to temporarily close or suspend public services as
necessary to ensure the safety of its personnel. In addition, U.S.
citizens planning to travel abroad should consult the Department of State’s
public announcements, travel warnings, consular information sheets, and
regional travel brochures. U.S. citizens in need of emergency assistance
should telephone the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate before proceeding to
that location. In the second report, the Department of State warns U.S.
citizens to defer all travel to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza at this
time due to continuing tensions and violence. Violent clashes and
confrontations continue to take place throughout the West Bank and Gaza.
Violence has also taken place in Israel and Jerusalem. U.S. Government
employees who live in East Jerusalem have been relocated for the time
being, and U.S. Government employees have been prohibited from traveling to
the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, including the Old City, and urged
to avoid the Jaffa section of Tel Aviv. Private U.S. citizens should defer
travel to these areas at this time. Private U.S. citizens who reside in
East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza are advised to stay at home or
relocate to a safe location. U.S. citizens throughout Israel, the West
Bank, and Gaza should exercise caution and avoid any large crowds or
demonstrations. The U.S. Consulate General facility on Nablus Road in
Jerusalem has been temporarily closed. U.S. citizens who require emergency
passport issuance should contact the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv. For other
emergency services, U.S. citizens may telephone the Consulate General in
Jerusalem at (972) (2) 622-7230 or the embassy in Tel Aviv at (972) (3)
519-7355. Mr. Schumacher cautions that all NASA Officials at Headquarters
and the Centers should review all requests for foreign travel to ensure
that they are necessary in light of these advisories. In particular, all
travel to Israel is presumed to be denied. If any travel to Israel is
deemed critical at this time, Code I will confer with the Department of
State regarding the request. Mr. Schumacher also advises that managers
should emphasize the need for caution in foreign travel in light of these
Department of State advisements.

AM/Nicogossian: Dr. Nicogossian reminded everyone about the first Health
Council meeting scheduled for October 20, 2000.

2. Dr. Mulville:

Dr. Mulville reported on the following items: 1) The Headquarters Quality
Council will meet today from 1 to 3 p.m., in ACR-2. 2) The Capital
Investment Council will meet tomorrow, from 12:30 to 5 p.m., in 9H40. The
agenda has been distributed by e-mail to all CIC members in preparation for
OMB briefings. 3) The Headquarters Annual Awards Ceremony is scheduled for
Wednesday, October 18. The ceremony will be held in the auditorium at 1:30
p.m. 4) The Integrated Financial Management Council is scheduled to meet
on Thursday, October 19, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., in ACR-2. 5) The
Senior Management Council meeting will be held at Headquarters on Friday,
October 20, from
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

3. Center Reports

ARC/McDonald: Dr. McDonald reported on the following items: 1) This week
is the Ames annual “Safety Week.” Activities include a Safety “down day,”
safety street fair, meetings relative to the Ames Voluntary Protection
Program, and a “Quality Forum 200” where the Lieutenant Governor of
California will be a featured speaker. 2) The Design for Safety workshop
was held October 10-12 at ARC. Over 250 personnel attended including folks
from all the NASA Centers, many other government agencies, academia, and
industry.

DFRC/Petersen: Mr. Petersen thanked those who participated in the
Engineering Management Council last week.

GSFC/Diaz: Mr. Diaz reported on the success of Earth Science Week at the
National Air and Space Museum. There is more information on the GSFC
Homepage.

JSC/Abbey: Mr. Abbey reported on the following items: 1) The STS-92
mission is going well. Saturday, the crew successfully installed the Z-1
truss. Today, JSC will reposition the PMA-3. There will be two more EVA’s
(extravehicular activities). The Space Shuttle is scheduled to land on
Sunday. (Note: The Space Shuttle successfully landed at Edwards AFB on
Tuesday, October 24.) 2) The STS-97 stack will roll over to the Vertical
Assembly Building at KSC next week. 3) The ISS is doing well onorbit.

KSC/Bridges: Mr. Bridges reported that KSC will hold their Super Safety
Day on October 18 which will include special safety-related activities
through Cape Canaveral Air Force Station as well as KSC.

MSFC/Griner: Ms. Griner reported on the following items 1) She reported
on Congressman Robert E (Bud) Cramer’s (D-AL) visit and the Triangular
Alliance Meeting with Arnold Engineering Development Center, AH Arnold,
Dept of Energy, Oakridge, 2) Super Safety Day was a success with 420
attendees, including industry.