Thursday, September 17, 2009

Dale withdraws from Space Florida job

Shana Dale, former NASA deputy administrator and Bush appointee, has requested that she not be considered for the job of president of Space Florida, state Sen. Thad Altman confirmed Wednesday.

Dale had been recommended by a search committee and was to be confirmed today during a teleconference of the state agency's board of directors. Dale apparently has found another job.

The appointment was opposed strongly by Brevard County officials, who favored interim President Frank DiBello.

DiBello became interim president in early May, replacing Steve Kohler, who was appointed in 2006 and resigned May 8 after a controversy over several questionable contracts. Kohler formerly worked for former governor Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge and had little space industry experience. DiBello was the runner up when Kohler was chosen.

Before former President Bush appointed Dale to NASA in 2005, she served in the Bush White House. She resigned her NASA post shortly before President Obama took office.

Up to 7,000 space industry jobs will be lost when the shuttle stops flying. Many more related jobs will evaporate as space industry workers leave the area.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

There is no question that Mr. DiBello is the right person for the job. What were they thinking? I'd like to know what phone calls were made and by whom.