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| !         | ***NASA Ombuds Program***                                |
| [](media/ |                                                          |
| image1.jp | ***2005 Annual Report***                                 |
| eg){width |                                                          |
| ="1.25in" | ***Informality Independence Confidentiality              |
| hei       | Neutrality***                                            |
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**[Background]{.underline}**

-   The NASA Ombuds Program was established in January 2004 in response
    to a recommendation of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, to
    provide the NASA workforce (employees and contractors) with a
    supplemental channel of communication to raise significant issues
    and concerns they perceive could impact safety, organizational
    performance, or mission success.

-   NASA Policy Directive (NPD) 2025.1, NASA Ombuds Program, documents
    the program policy and direction. The program is based on the
    principles of informality, independence, confidentiality and
    neutrality, as defined in the NPD and supported by the Code of
    Ethics and Standards of Practice of

> The International Ombudsman Association.

-   The NASA Ombuds Program is led by the Assistant Administrator (AA)
    Office of Infrastructure and Administration (OIA). Ms. Olga
    Dominguez, Acting AA OIA, is the Program Lead and provides overall
    program management. Currently all Centers and Headquarters have
    established Ombuds Programs and most of them have an Ombuds and an
    alternate Ombuds available to NASA workforce at their Centers.

**[2005 Year Accomplishments]{.underline}**

-   NASA Ombuds Program continued program development and

> implementation across all Centers and Headquarters.

-   April 2005, Deputy Administrator memo to Center Directors

> and Officials-in-Charge of Headquarters announcing the
>
> Ombuds Program as being fully operational, noting the approval
>
> of NPD 2025.1A in January 2005.

-   The NASA Ombuds Working Group undertook 21 actions to

> further the program. These actions were a result of additional
>
> benchmarking and training activities, and from lessons learned
>
> during 2005 program implementation.

-   The Working Group completed a proposed revision to

> NPD 2025.1A. The proposed revision is undergoing formal
>
> review for approval in the NASA Online Directives Information
>
> System (NODIS). Approval expected by end of March 2006.

-   20 Center and Headquarters personnel obtained Ombuds

> certification after attending training provided by The Ombudsman
>
> Association.

**[2005 Results]{.underline}**

-   Across the Agency, Ombuds were contacted over 300 times

> during CY 2005, a 67% increase from the previous year.

-   Over 67% of Ombuds contacts were related to \"organizational

> performance\" issues, while 11% and 7% were related to
>
> "mission success" and "safety" related issues, respectively.

**[2006 Plans]{.underline}**

-   The primary focus for the next year will continue to be increasing
    awareness of Ombuds programs at the Centers. Opportunities for
    awareness include: employee information campaigns through written
    articles/websites and oral presentations; education of mid-level and
    senior managers; conduct of regular stakeholders meetings; and
    support of related Center activities (employee orientations, Safety
    Day, etc).

-   The Working Group will continue to develop tools for NASA Ombuds to
    improve their interaction with visitors and supporting organizations
    (e.g. Ombuds website, Center website links, etc.)

-   Additional benchmarking of Ombuds activities with external
    Ombuds-related groups and activities (e.g. Coalition of Federal
    Ombudsman, The International Ombuds Association Conference, etc.).

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| ![](med    | ***NASA Ombuds                                          |
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| h="1.25in" | height="0.7in"}                                         |
| height="0. |                                                         |
| 9263888888 | ***2005 Annual Report***                                |
| 888889in"} |                                                         |
|            | ***Informality Independence Confidentiality             |
|            | Neutrality***                                           |
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***What is an Ombuds, Anyway?***

The Ombuds provides an additional and supplemental channel of
communication for employees and contractors (herein referred to as
\'visitors\' of the Ombuds) to raise significant issues and concerns
that they perceive could impact safety, organizational performance, or
mission success. The program is based upon the principles of
informality, independence, confidentiality and neutrality. These
principles are summarized as follows:

-   ***Informality*** *-- NASA Ombuds Program functions outside all
    formal management, administrative or criminal processes. Ombuds does
    not serve as an agent for notice to NASA. The Ombuds assists the
    visitor in accessing appropriate formal systems, offices or
    processes as needed*.

-   ***Independence** -- Ombuds is not encumbered by line management
    functions. In keeping with the principle of confidentiality, the
    Ombuds reports Ombuds-related matters to the Center Director (Center
    Ombuds) or Deputy Administrator (HQ Ombuds), as needed.*

-   ***Confidentiality** -- Ombuds maintain complete confidentiality as
    to the identity of visitors, except under various circumstances, and
    at the sole discretion of the Ombuds. More details of these in NPD
    2025.1., NASA Ombuds Program.*

-   ***Neutrality** --* Ombuds does not serve as a representative or
    advocate of any visitor's concerns within NASA, however, Ombuds does
    advocate for fair processes and administration.

A more detailed definition of these principles and how they apply to the
Ombuds Program can be found in NASA policy, NPD 2025.1, NASA Ombuds
Program.

The Ombuds responds to incoming issues and provides an appropriate,
confidential, and impartial forum for visitors. They work with the
visitor to develop options for the potential concerns. This may involve
redirecting the issue to another more appropriate channel available at
NASA, such as the Inspector General, Equal Employment Opportunity
Office, NASA Safety Reporting System, etc. The Ombuds consults with
necessary officials and works to facilitate a mutually satisfactory
resolution of the issue.

The Ombuds serves in an independent chain of command when performing the
Ombuds role, reporting directly to the Center Director, or at
Headquarters, to the Deputy Administrator.

***NASA Center Ombuds***

  ----------- -------------------------- ----------- ----------------------------
  **ARC:**    John Boyd (Alt: Geoffrey   **JSC:**    Shannon Lucid (Alt: Ralph
              Briggs)                                Anderson)

  **DFRC:**   John (Dill) Hunley (Alt:   **KSC:**    Jim Thompson (Alt: Hortense
              Albion Bowers)                         Burt)

  **GRC:**    Terri Rodgers (Alt: Sunil  **LaRC:**   Dr. Vic Delnore (Alt: Nick
              Dutta)                                 Kepics)

  **GSFC:**   Lawrence Watson (Alt: Gail **MSFC:**   Charles Scales (Alt: Barron
              Williams)                              Musick)

  **HQ:**     Brent Bennett              **SSC:**    James Riser

  **JPL:**    Lewis Redding                          
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