NASA Will Reluctantly Reassign Key Shuttle Management
The wording of Sean O’Keefe’s 28 Feb 2003 letter to Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) hair Gehman has lead to some conflicting interpretations in the media. Despite reports to the contrary, NASA Watch has learned that several Shuttle program managers will indeed be reassigned by NASA, per the CAIB’s request – albeit rather reluctantly. Senior NASA management is quite adamant that they do not want anyone singled out before the CAIB’s final report is even written – hence their reluctance to remove people from their positions.
On the other hand, NASA is also concerned about having certain individuals confronted with potential conflicts that might arise while attempting to both carry out their operational responsibilities as well as honor the requests made by the ongoing accident investigation wherein their previous actions might come under scrutiny.
As such, (per O’Keefe’s letter) NASA will restructure its support efforts for the CAIB and use non-Shuttle personnel to assist their investigation.
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“Now that the initial recovery and response actions are behind us and operations are more predictable and mangeable, the Board requests that you reassign the top level Space Shuttle Program management personnel who were invlved in the preparation and operation of the flight of STS 107 back to their duties and remove them from directly managing or suporting the investigation.”
“While I understand the purpose of your letter of February 25, 2003, I am convinced that this course of action will be viewed as prejudging the facts before the investigation is complete. Despite your assurances that no conclusions have been made arising from the facts of the investigation at this time, simply reassigning personnel will not accomplish your stated goal. Moreover, new personnel could be subjected to the same appearance of conflict in the future and I will not submit anyone to this treatment.”
