Sue Mathis Richard                                      
Headquarters, Washington                                    
September 17, 1991
(Phone:  202/453-8364) 

RELEASE:  91-149


NASA DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR RESIGNS

                                    
     NASA Deputy Administrator J.R. Thompson, Jr. announced 
today that due to personal circumstances, he has submitted a 
letter of resignation to the President and will leave his 
current responsibilities effective November 8, 1991.  Thompson 
became NASA's Deputy Administrator on July 6, 1989.

     Thompson said, "I consider the last several years, 
serving as NASA's Deputy Administrator, a highlight of my 
career with the Agency that spans over 25 years.  I have 
tremendous respect for the men and women of NASA who today 
lead the world in aeronautics and the exploration of space.  
Their collective achievements are unmatched anywhere in the 
world."

     He continued, "It has been a great privilege for me to 
serve under the leadership of President Bush, Vice President 
Quayle, and NASA Administrator Richard H. Truly.  Their strong 
support of America's civil space program and vision of the 
future command the admiration of all of us."

     Thompson is an internationally recognized propulsion 
expert who has managed major space programs and directed major 
research and development efforts.  Thompson entered federal 
service in 1963 at the Marshall Space Flight Center as a 
liquid propulsion engineer.  In 1969, as Chief of Man/Systems 
Integration in the Astronautics Laboratory, he managed the 
design, test, and integration engineering for the man/machine 
interface on Skylab.  Later in 1974, Thompson was chosen to 
manage the Space Shuttle main engine project.  In 1982, he 
assumed responsibility for the technical integrity of 
engineering involved in all of Marshall's diverse programs as 
Associate Director of Engineering.

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     In 1983, Thompson joined Princeton University's Plasma 
Physics Lab, working on fusion energy research.  However, he 
responded to a call to rejoin NASA in 1986 as the Director of 
Marshall Space Flight Center to direct a major effort to 
return the Space Shuttle to safe flight following the 
Challenger accident.

     As Deputy Administrator, Thompson has spearheaded efforts 
to improve program management, upgrade institutional 
capabilities and aggressively fought for a balanced civil 
aeronautics and space program.

     NASA Administrator Truly said, "Our nation owes a 
profound measure of gratitude to J.R. Thompson.  His 
brilliance, dedication and untiring efforts have been 
instrumental to the success of America's space program for a 
generation.  His wise counsel and unflagging spirit will be 
sorely missed."

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