President Trump said today he would nominate James Morhard as NASA's deputy administrator. Morhard is currently the United States Senate Deputy Sergeant at Arms.
Before his present post, Morhard was staff director of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement that he also "ran the Senate Commerce, Justice, State subcommittee that included all NOAA programs, and the Military Construction subcommitttee where public/private partnerships were first used for military housing."
Bridenstine had advocated for Janet Kavandi, a former astronaut and current director of NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. "That's the kind of person at this juncture, given how important everything is right now, that we need as our deputy, and I'm advocating for her," Bridenstine told SpaceNews in June.
Morhard has a B.S. in accounting from St. Francis University, M.B.A from George Washington University, and law degree from Georgetown University, the White House said. He was described a July 12 Roll Call profile as a "seasoned GOP aide" who had worked for nine senators in his career. Those relationships and his leadership experience on Capitol Hill could be factors in the selection.
"This administration is committed to American leadership in space," Bridenstine said in making the announcement, "and I look forward to working with Mr. Morhard upon his confirmation."
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center employs about 6,000 direct and contract employees in Huntsville.