O'Keefe is currently the Deputy Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. Previously he taught at the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

He also served as the Director of National Security Studies, which provides executive education programs for senior military and civilian Department of Defense managers.

Underscoring growing concern among space advocates about the direction of NASA, Dave Weldon, the US Congressional Representative (R-FL) who serves as Vice Chair on the House Science Committee' Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee issued a statement Wednesday saying he was pleased that the White House has decided to name a new NASA Administrator - a decision awaited by many for a long time.

While Mr.O'Keefe clearly has many years of government service, he has no background in space policy or familiarity with many of the technical issues he'll be faced with as NASA Administrator.

If he is confirmed, it will be incumbent on Mr. O'Keefe to make a fresh, unbiased assessment of NASA's needs from his new perspective and to establish a working relationship with the White House-not OMB-for policy guidance.

It has been suggested that Mr. O'Keefe's close ties with Vice President may be a valuable asset to him in that regard. I hope that is the case. Weldon's statement reiterated his belief that NASA was an agency in need of serious managerial reform and that he hoped that Mr. O'Keefe's past experience as Comptroller of the Department of Defense and Secretary of the Navy will help him in that task.

With that said, OMB has been the driving force behind NASA's policy for far too many years. I will be watching closely to see if Mr. Mr.O'Keefe's appointment is just another extension of that or whether he is someone willing and capable of providing vision and leadership at this important juncture in NASA's life, said Weldon.

Outgoing NASA Administrator Dan Goldin in a statement congratulated Sean as he began the nomination process to become NASA's next Administrator. I look forward to assisting in the transition of my leadership of America's space program to Sean.

"Nearly ten years ago, I accepted a job that was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. I'm sure that Sean must feel the same excitement and anticipation I first felt when I was nominated as Administrator.

"I feel blessed to have had the unique opportunity to serve the people of this nation in an area so tied to the hopes and dreams of all Americans. I hope that Sean will feel equally blessed when he assumes his new job. The President has nominated a man of intelligence, energy and deep integrity. I wish Sean well,: said Goldin.

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