NASA After Shuttle

by T.D McCay, Ph.D.

Since I was appointed to the Education and Public Outreach Committee of the NASA Advisory Council, I have had some unique opportunities to interact with the highest level of the organization that is so near to my heart. I have been lucky enough to deal with several NASA administrators one-on-one but this committee gives me access to General Charlie Bolden, the current administrator.

I was a little skeptical so in my first real chance to see General Bolden in action I was ready to be unimpressed. I was way off base. He might be the best communicator I have seen in my 40 years of this business. I had a few minutes of one-on-one with “Charlie,” the name he insisted upon. He was a major general in the Marine Corps and that wasn’t easy for me but he insisted.

The man listened. Whether what I had to say was worth hearing or not, he listened. Interesting because I was telling him why I thought his idea he had presented would not work. But I am convinced he listened. Maybe there is hope, not because I told him anything profound or worthwhile, but just because he LISTENED. Semper Fi.