Challenger Center Board Member Miles O’Brien Named to NASA Advisory Council

Veteran Journalist and Pilot will Lead Education and Public Outreach Committee

November 5, 2009, Alexandria, Virginia – Miles O’Brien, a member of Challenger Center for Space Science Education’s Board of Directors, has been appointed to the NASA Advisory Council, and will lead the Education and Public Outreach Committee.

O’Brien is a 26-year broadcast news veteran who has successfully melded a talent for telling complex stories in accessible terms with a lifelong passion for aviation, space and technology. Based in New York City, he owns a production company that creates, produces and distributes original content across all media platforms. For nearly 17 years he worked as a correspondent, anchor and producer for CNN based in Atlanta and New York. At various times he was CNN’s science, space, aviation, technology and environment correspondent.

“It is such an honor to serve NASA in this capacity. The agency is at an important crossroads and it is crucial to keep Americans of all ages engaged and excited about space. The Challenger Learning Center model is good example of how we can move the bar and I look forward to using its philosophy of participatory exploration as a template for other ideas to help the agency educate and inform,” said O’Brien.

“We are looking forward to continuing to work with Miles O’Brien as he joins the NASA Advisory Council. It is a critical time for education and public outreach about our space program,” said Dan Barstow, Challenger Center President.

“I consider the NASA Advisory Council to be an extremely important external advisory group, one that is uniquely capable to advise me and the entire NASA senior leadership team on some of the important decisions our agency will face in the coming months and years,” said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.

Using space exploration as a theme and simulations as a vehicle, Challenger Center creates positive educational experiences that raise students’ expectations of success, fosters a long-term interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and inspires students to pursue studies and careers in these areas. To learn more, visit http://www.challenger.org