Johnson Space Center Director Jefferson D. Howell Jr. will be available to media at 10:30 a.m. Friday in the JSC public affairs briefing room to discuss results of the recently completed assessment of organizational culture and safety at the agency.

The assessment was conducted by Behavioral Sciences Technology Inc., which has been selected by NASA to assess and implement improvements to the agencywide safety climate and culture. The agency embarked on a plan to transform organizational and safety culture after the Columbia Accident Investigation Board found that NASA's history and culture had contributed to the loss of Columbia.

Friday's media availability will follow a meeting by Howell with JSC employees to discuss the assessment and plans for improvement. The 9 a.m. employee meeting will not be open to media, but media at JSC may watch on the center's closed circuit television system.

Media planning to attend Howell's availability on Friday should contact the JSC Newsroom as soon as possible to arrange credentials and should plan to arrive at JSC no later than 10 a.m. The event will not be carried on NASA Television and will be available only to those media present at JSC.

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