spacetoday.net: MIT professor nominated to become NASA deputy administrator

Posted: Sat, Oct 18, 2014, 10:07 AM ET (1407 GMT)
Dava Newman (MIT)

The White House announced Thursday that it has nominated an MIT professor with experience in space technology and policy to become the second-in-command at NASA. The Obama Administration formally announced Thursday the nomination of Dava Newman to become NASA Deputy Administrator, a position that requires confirmation by the US Senate. Newman, who has a PhD in aerospace biomedical engineering, has worked on a variety of human factors issues in spaceflight, including the development of a spacesuit design that provides greater flexibility. She also is director of the university's technology policy program, and served on the technical panel that supported the National Academies' Committee on Human Spaceflight. The position of NASA deputy administrator has been vacant since Lori Garver stepped down in September 2013.