Bridenstine praises President’s nomination of Deputy NASA Administrator

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine is supporting the man nominated by President Trump to be the space agency’s deputy administrator.

James Morhard was nominated by the White House and like Bridenstine, was an outside choice for the position.

“This administration is committed to American leadership in space, and I look forward to working with Mr. Morhard upon his confirmation,” said the former Oklahoma congressman following the nomination announcement.

“Morhard is the United States Senate Deputy Sergeant at Arms. Prior to this, he was the Staff Director of the Senate Appropriations Committee. During his tenure there, he ran the Senate Commerce, Justice, State subcommittee that included all NOAA programs, and the Military Construction subcommittee where public/private partnerships were first used for military housing.”

Prior to his work as Deputy Sergeant at Arms, Mr. Morhard had served as the Staff Director of the Senate Appropriations Committee. While there he led the Senate Commerce, Justice, State subcommittee. This group oversaw all NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) programs. He was also part of the Military Construction subcommittee as it implemented public / private partnerships for housing of the U.S. military.

Director Bridenstine had been pushing for a Deputy Director with direct space experience but others in the Beltway believe Morhard is the right person for the job. Former Republican Congressman Bob Walker, who helped draft the president’s current space policy, praised the decision. He told the Washington Post, “The administration has decided they want somebody who is clearly in tune with what the president wants to get done in the space program.”

James Morhard’s must still be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, a date for when this will take place has yet to be announced.