Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-Oklahoma) is one of the potential candidates for the NASA administrator position and secretary of the U.S. Air Force under the administration of President-elect Donald Trump, Space News reported Friday.
Jeff Foust writes Bridenstine is a former U.S. Navy pilot who introduced in April the American Space Renaissance Act, a bill that seeks to implement a “holistic†approach to space policy and covers commercial space, civil and national security issues.
Bridenstine, who also serves in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, has also supported the “enhanced payload review†concept that is based on the Federal Aviation Administration’s payload assessment process for commercial launch licenses, Foust reports.
During his Nov. 2 speech at a Lunar Exploration Analysis Group meeting in Maryland, he suggested regulatory changes to help commercial space firms launch their own missions and expressed support to moon exploration missions by NASA, according to the report.
The report said former astronaut Eileen Collins is also being considered for the NASA chief post.
Mark Albrecht, former executive secretary of the National Space Council during President George H.W. Bush’s administration, oversees the NASA transition team for the next administration and may also be considered for the administrator post at the space agency, the report added.
