Federal Position Descriptions
Print

Administrator

Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Responsibility
Management Scope

The administrator of NASA is responsible for managing a workforce of more than 17,000 civil servants supported by more than 40,000 contractor personnel. The administrator oversees a budget of $19.3 billion (fiscal 2016 NASA enacted budget).

Primary Responsibilities

• Articulates the agency’s vision
• Sets the agency’s programmatic and budget priorities and internal policies
• Assesses agency performance5

• Aligns the strategic and policy direction of NASA with the interests and requirements of the agency’s stakeholders and constituent groups6

Strategic Goals and Priorities
[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration.]
Requirements

• Experience and expertise with risk management7

Competencies

• Ability to manage complex organizations and missions
• Ability to establish long-term strategic goals and develop and/or sustain relationships with international partners
• Exceptional management and negotiation skills
• Ability to build strong congressional relationships8

Past Appointments
  • Charles Bolden (2009 to 2017) – Astronaut, NASA; Major General, U.S. Marine Corp; Chief Executive Officer, Jack and Panther, LLC9
  • Michael Griffin (2005 to 2009) – Space Department Head, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab; President and Chief Executive Officer, In-Q-Tel, Inc.10
  • Sean O’Keefe (2001 to 2005) – Deputy Director, Office of Management and Budget; Acting Secretary, Navy11
AGENCY

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Mission: To drive advances in science, technology and exploration, and to enhance knowledge, education, innovation, economic vitality and stewardship of Earth.

COMPENSATION

Level II $179,700 (5 U.S.C. § 5313)3

REPORTS TO

President of the United States4

SENATE COMMITTEE

Commerce, Science and Transportation

Appointee Tracker

Check out our Political Appointee Tracker

Go to the tracker
Footnote
  1. Plum book
  2. http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/codez/plans/Handbook00/chap2.html
  3. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.
  4. Romney Readiness Project position description
  5. http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/codez/plans/Handbook00/chap2.html
  6. http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/codez/strahand/roles.htm
  7. Romney Readiness Project position description
  8. Romney Readiness Project position description
  9. Romney Readiness Project position description
  10. Romney Readiness Project position description
  11. Romney Readiness Project position description
More federal position descriptions