June 27 /PRNewswire/ — In anticipation of a
steady increase in Shuttle flights to the International Space Station and in
support of ongoing program-wide improvement initiatives, United Space Alliance
has announced the establishment of the Office of Deputy Program Manager,
Florida Operations.

U.S. Navy Admiral (Ret.) William “Bill” Pickavance has been named to the
new post, effective July 1, 2000, and will be joined by former Shuttle
astronaut Andrew Allen, who will serve as Director, Technical Operations.

“This new office will serve as the management focal point for all USA
program operations in Florida and will strengthen our team for the next major
phase in the program — ISS assembly,” said USA Program Manager Howard
DeCastro.
“Bill’s command experience will serve the program well as we
continue to ramp up the flight rate and associated work.
Andy’s knowledge and
technical experience will be invaluable in the integration of all the program
work elements that have come together under USA management.”

As Vice President and Deputy Program Manager, Pickavance will be
responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of all USA Space Shuttle
program elements in Florida, including Ground Operations, Logistics and Solid
Rocket Boosters.
Pickavance will report directly to the USA Program Manager
and will serve as the top program representative to the NASA customer at the
Kennedy Space Center.
Associate Program Managers (APMs) for each Florida
element will report directly to him.

Pickavance joins USA following a long and distinguished career in the U.S.
Navy beginning with his enlistment as an ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve in
1968 and culminating in his most recent assignment as Director for Operations,
U.S. Pacific Command.
He served in a number of increasingly responsible
capacities throughout his career as a Naval aviator and, among his many
accomplishments, commanded the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk from June 1993
to January 1995, winning numerous awards for operational excellence.

As Director, Technical Operations, Allen will be responsible for the
development and integration of technical operations across the Florida program
elements.
Allen, who previously served as Program Manager, Space Shuttle
Development, will also advise Pickavance on program-wide technical issues.

As a NASA astronaut, Allen flew over 900 hours in space as Pilot of STS-46
and STS-62, and as Commander of STS-75.
He served more than 20 years as a
United States Marine Corps aviator, logging over 6,000 flight hours in more
than 30 different aircraft.

Replacing Allen as Program Manager, Space Shuttle Development, will be
James Eyman who will report directly to Turner.
Eyman has served as Vice
President for Safety, Quality and Mission Assurance (S&MA) since January,
1999, and prior to that as Vice President and Associate Program Manager,
Orbiter Element since USA was formed in 1996

Richard Beagley will replace Eyman as Vice President for Safety, Quality
and Mission Assurance and will be located at the Kennedy Space Center, also
reporting directly to Turner.
As VP for SQ&MA, he will be responsible for
USA’s safety, quality and mission assurance for the International Space
Station and Space Shuttle Programs, and for developing and maintaining total
quality systems throughout USA.
Beagley served as Director of Safety,
Reliability and Quality Assurance for USBI, before joining USA in October
1999.