NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe has named retired Air Force Major General Michael C. Kostelnik as Deputy Associate Administrator for International Space Station and Space Shuttle, a newly created senior management position within the Office of Human Space Flight.

The new position provides leadership and accountability for top-level safety requirements, mission success criteria, overall policy definition, and strategic planning in the direction and administration of the two programs.

"I am extremely pleased that General Kostelnik is going to join our team," said Administrator O'Keefe. "The Shuttle and Station programs need to be more closely integrated and will benefit from General Kostelnik's hands-on experience and proven track record in managing leading-edge aerospace systems."

Kostelnik's responsibilities will include the corporate level management of program safety, budget, performance and schedule requirements for the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle program. The program managers for these important programs will report directly to Kostelnik, consistent with the recommendations of the International Space Station Management and Cost Evaluation (IMCE) Task Force, known as the Young Report.

Kostelnik has more than 25 years of hands-on experience in research, development, testing, and evaluation of leading edge aerospace systems. He brings to NASA broad experience and in-depth expertise in the management of high-risk aerospace development test programs and operations safety.

Until his retirement, Kostelnik was the Commander of the Air Force Development and Test Center and Air Armament Center at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Responsible for two of the Air Force's largest installations, he was also the flight manager for high-risk flight operations, which tested weapon systems.

From late 1995 through 1997, Kostelnik was Vice Commander and Director, Plans and Programs, of the Air Force Materiel Command, Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

From mid-1994 through late 1995, Kostelnik was Director, Special Programs, in the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. He managed advanced technology programs, with responsibility for oversight of acquisition, covert operations and intelligence special access programs.

"General Kostelnik's experience with next-generations systems and high-risk programs will be invaluable to the Human Space Flight Program," added Administrator O'Keefe.

Before serving at the Pentagon, Kostelnik held a variety of positions in the Air Force, including Vice Commander, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Warner Robins Air Force Base, Ga., and Commandant of the Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Kostelnik joined the Air Force as a fighter pilot in 1970, serving as an instructor and flight examiner. He also served as a test pilot in the F-4, F-15, and more than 60 other aircraft.

He holds a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University, a master's degree in Industrial Management Engineering from the University of Iowa, and has completed extensive advanced program and executive management training at a variety of institutions, including the National Defense University, the Goldratt Institute, and Johns Hopkins.

Kostelnik will report to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida June 1 to immediately begin an intensive review of the system integration challenges associated with the International Space Station. He will permanently relocate to NASA Headquarters in Washington by late summer.

Additional biographical information is available on the Internet at: http://www.af.mil/news/biographies/kostelnik_mc.html.