Glenn Mahone/Bob Jacobs
Headquarters, Washington                Nov. 7, 2002
(Phone: 202/358-1898/1600)

RELEASE: 02-215

GEORGE W.S. ABBEY ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

     In a distinguished federal service career that spanned 
a half-century, George W.S. Abbey today announced his 
retirement from NASA, effective January 3, 2003. Abbey 
leaves the agency after a highly decorated aerospace career, 
which included the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest 
civilian award, for his role on the Apollo 13 Mission 
Operations Team.

In February 2001, Abbey became the Senior Assistant for 
International Issues reporting to the NASA administrator.  
Subsequent, he was appointed as a Senior Visiting Fellow at 
the James Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice 
University.  He is also working with the University of Texas 
El Paso to enhance the University's engineering and science 
programs and encourage young students to pursue careers in 
science and engineering.

"George helped to shape some of NASA's most difficult 
programs and missions as a true innovator and pioneer," said 
Administrator Sean O'Keefe. "Throughout his eminent career, 
George distinguished both himself and the agency. He leaves 
behind a legacy of excellence and dedication that the 
hardworking people of NASA will follow for years to come."

Abbey joined NASA in 1964, as an Air Force Captain assigned 
to the Apollo Program. In December 1967 he left the Air 
Force and was named technical assistant to the JSC Center 
Director.  In January 1976, he was named Director of Flight 
Operations, where he was responsible for operational 
planning and for the overall direction and management of 
flight crew and flight control activities for all human 
space flight missions.

In 1983, he became Director of Flight Crew Operations 
Directorate, where he continued to be responsible for all 
Space Shuttle flight crews and center aircraft operations.

Abbey was appointed Deputy Associate Administrator for Space 
Flight at NASA Headquarters in Washington in March 1988. In 
July 1990, he was selected as Deputy for Operations and 
senior NASA representative to the Synthesis Group, chaired 
by former Apollo astronaut Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford, USAF 
(ret.), and charged with defining strategies for returning 
to the Moon and landing on Mars.

In July 1991, Abbey was appointed Senior Director for Civil 
Space Policy for the National Space Council in the Executive 
Office of the President, and in 1992 he was named as Special 
Assistant to the NASA Administrator. Abbey was named Deputy 
Director of JSC in 1994 and was selected as the JSC Center 
Director in 1996.

Born in Seattle on August 21, 1932, Abbey received his 
bachelor's degree in general science from the U.S. Naval 
Academy, Annapolis, Md., in 1954, and a master's degree in 
electrical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Institute of 
Technology, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in 1959.   
A pilot in the U.S. Air Force, Abbey had more than 4,000 
hours in various types of aircraft before being detailed to 
NASA.  This year, 2002, he was selected as a Distinguished 
Alumnus of the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology. 

Abbey's numerous honors and awards include the NASA 
Exceptional Service Medal, the NASA Outstanding Leadership 
Medal, three NASA Distinguished Service Medals and the 1970 
Medal of Freedom, which was presented by President Richard 
M. Nixon, for his distinguished civilian service in 
peacetime.  He was the recipient of the Rotary National 
Award for Space Achievement in 1997.  

"George is a demanding leader who rarely accepts 
compromise," added Administrator O'Keefe. "His ability to 
motivate and inspire his staff to work harder and smarter 
helped NASA write much of its human space flight history. 
His devotion to the success of America's space program is 
unquestionable and I wish him the best."

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