Sean O'Keefe

Sean O'Keefe is an American public administrator and corporate executive who served as the tenth Administrator of NASA under President George W. Bush. His tenure was defined by implementing the Vision for Space Exploration and overseeing the agency's recovery from the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. O'Keefe previously served as the 69th United States Secretary of the Navy and held senior financial and administrative roles at Syracuse University, Louisiana State University, and Airbus Americas.

Early life and education

Sean O'Keefe was born on January 27, 1956, at the Naval Support Activity Monterey in Monterey, California. He spent much of his youth in the New Orleans area, where his father was stationed with the United States Coast Guard. O'Keefe earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Loyola University New Orleans in 1977. He subsequently received a Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University in 1978, where he was a Maxwell Fellow.

NASA career

Appointed by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate, O'Keefe began his term as Administrator of NASA on December 21, 2001. He succeeded Daniel S. Goldin and was charged with reforming the agency's financial management. Following the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia and its crew in 2003, O'Keefe led the agency's response and implemented the recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. He was a principal architect of the Vision for Space Exploration, announced by President Bush in 2004, which set goals for a return to the Moon and eventual missions to Mars. O'Keefe resigned from NASA in February 2005 and was succeeded by Michael D. Griffin.

Later career and other roles

Prior to his NASA service, O'Keefe held several prominent government positions. He served as Comptroller of the Department of Defense, United States Secretary of the Navy, and Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget. After leaving government, he served as Chancellor of Louisiana State University from 2005 to 2008. O'Keefe later joined the aerospace industry as the Chief Executive Officer of Airbus Americas and as an executive vice president of its parent company, Airbus Group. He has also served on the boards of directors for Lockheed Martin and the Aerospace Industries Association.

Personal life

Sean O'Keefe is married and has three children. In 2010, he survived a serious plane crash in Alaska after the de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter he was traveling in crashed near Aleknagik. Among the other passengers were former United States Senator Ted Stevens and former NASA chief of staff Bill Phillips; Stevens and four others perished in the accident. O'Keefe sustained significant injuries but recovered after extensive medical treatment.

Awards and honors

Throughout his career, Sean O'Keefe has received numerous accolades for his public service. He is a recipient of the Department of the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. O'Keefe was also awarded the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal and the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service. In 2004, he received the John J. Egan Award from the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress.

Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:NASA administrators Category:United States Secretaries of the Navy Category:Loyola University New Orleans alumni Category:Syracuse University alumni