spacetoday.net: Fred Gregory resigns from NASA

Posted: Sat, Sep 10, 2005, 10:55 AM ET (1455 GMT)
Frederick Gregory (NASA)

NASA Deputy Administrator Fred Gregory, a former astronaut, announced Friday his intent to retire from the space agency, and the White House moved quickly to announce a replacement. Gregory, the number two person at NASA, had served as deputy administrator since 2002, and had been widely expected to step down in recent months. Prior to being deputy administrator Gregory he had served as associate administrator for space flight and associate administrator for safety and mission assurance. Gregory, a former Air Force fighter pilot, was selected as an astronaut in 1978 and flew three shuttle missions between 1985 and 1991, commanding two of the missions. Within hours of the resignation the White House announced it has nominated Shana Dale to succeed Gregory as NASA deputy administrator. Dale is a deputy director of the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy and previously worked as staff director of the House Science Committee. Dale's nomination must be confirmed by Congress.