Joseph H. Rothenberg, Associate Administrator for Space
Flight at NASA Headquarters in Washington, today announced
his plans to retire from the Agency, effective December 15.
No successor has been selected.

Rothenberg, who joined NASA in 1983, was named Associate
Administrator in January 1998 and is in charge of NASA’s
human exploration and development of space. Before coming to
NASA Headquarters, he served as Director of NASA’s Goddard
Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., beginning in 1995.

“Under Joe’s guidance NASA was able to complete the first
phase of construction of the International Space Station and
begin human operations onboard the orbiting research
platform,” said NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin. “His
work has established the knowledge base needed for safe and
effective systems that will allow humans to live and work for
extended periods in space.”

As Associate Administrator, Rothenberg is responsible for
establishing policies and direction for the Space Shuttle and
International Space Station programs, as well as for space
communications and expendable launch services. In addition,
he is responsible for the operation and oversight of NASA’s
Johnson Space Center in Houston, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
in Florida, NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi and
NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama.

Rothenberg joined Goddard in 1983 and was responsible for
space systems development and operations, and for execution
of the scientific research program for NASA’s Earth-orbiting
science missions. He is widely recognized for leading the
development and successful completion of the highly
publicized first servicing mission for the Hubble Space
Telescope, which corrected the telescope’s flawed optics.

>From 1981 to 1983, Rothenberg served as Executive Vice
President of Computer Technology Associates, Inc., Space
Systems Division, McLean, Va., where he managed all ground
test and operations systems-engineering projects. Those
projects included the Hubble Space Telescope, Solar Maximum
repair mission, and space tracking and data system
architecture projects.

Rothenberg was with Grumman Aerospace from 1964 until 1981,
where he held a variety of project engineering and management
positions for hardware development and systems engineering,
and for tests and operations of spacecraft, aircraft and
submersible research vehicles.

He was recipient of the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in
1990. In 1994 and 2000, he received NASA Distinguished
Service Medals, and in 1995 he received the NASA Outstanding
Leadership Medal. In 1995 and 2001, Rothenberg received
Senior Executive Service Presidential Rank Meritorious
Executive Awards.

“NASA began construction of the International Space Station
in 1998. Joe came to us at a time when we needed his
engineering and management expertise,” added Administrator
Goldin. “He helped to lay the foundation for the single
largest international cooperative space project ever
undertaken. We’re now ready to take the next step and believe
the International Space Station will inspire a new generation
of scientists, engineers and explorers.”