NASA administrator taps new legislative affairs chief
NASA NEWS RELEASE
Posted: May 15, 2002

NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe has appointed Charles T. Horner III as Assistant Administrator for Legislative Affairs, effective immediately.

Horner, former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Army for Financial Management and Comptroller, joined NASA in January as Deputy Assistant Administrator for Legislative Affairs (Resources). He replaces Jeff M. Bingham, who will become the Senior Advisor to the Administrator for Policy and History.

"Charlie has vast experience in the legislative relations arena. As we near the end of the traditional hearing season on Capitol Hill, and transition to authorization and appropriations bills deliberation, this is an important time to move the NASA agenda -- and Charlie knows how to get it done," said Administrator O'Keefe. "Jeff has done an effective job leading Legislative Affairs since April 2001, and he will have an active role in helping shape the development and implementation of future policy here at NASA."

Horner is a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran, having served as a forward observer with an infantry company in Vietnam. In 1984, he served as an Army Inspector General and in 1986 Horner was the principal liaison for the Army with the Congressional Appropriation Committees for all procurement accounts.

During his career, Horner also has served as special assistant to various comptrollers for the Department of Defense for all matters involving the budget and Congress. He was selected in 1999 by the Secretary of the Navy to serve as his Special Assistant for Financial management.

"On top of his legislative experience, Charlie has an extensive background in resource and appropriations management," added Administrator O'Keefe. "Through Charlie's leadership, I am confident NASA will continue to have strong, bipartisan support and that he will successfully advance this agency's rapport with Congress."

In his new position, Bingham will be a senior advisor to the Administrator on development, adoption, dissemination and implementation of a broad range of policies and initiatives. He will also work closely with the NASA History Office, proposing activities and ensuring the application of historical perspective to contemporary policy development.

Bingham has been working on a book for the NASA History Series, which outlines the political history of the International Space Station. In this new position, he will be able to complete that important project and be in position to focus special attention on the evolution of the agency's space station policies.

"We have to apply the lessons of history when charting a future course for the agency. This new position allows us to take full advantage of Jeff's wide-ranging experience," concluded Administrator O'Keefe. "He will serve as a policy trouble-shooter for me, and will focus on a wide array of policy issues across the agency and help ensure those policies are clearly understood and consistently implemented."

Bingham first joined the Office of Legislative Affairs in 1994, where he served as coordinator in NASA's Space Station Program Office. Before joining NASA, he spent 17 years as Chief of Staff to former U.S. Senator Jake Garn of Utah. In 2001, Bingham provided support to the Bush-Cheney Transition Team and was appointed Special Assistant to NASA Chief of Staff and White House Liaison Courtney Stadd.