Bill Nelson

**Clarence William** "**Bill**" **Nelson II** (born September 29, 1942) is an American politician and astronaut. Nelson was the 14th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration from 2021 to 2025. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He was the United States Senator from Florida from 2001 to 2019. He lost his re-election campaign in 2018 to Republican Governor Rick Scott.

He was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1972 to 1978 and in the United States House of Representatives from 1979 to 1991. In January 1986, he became the second sitting member of Congress to fly in space, after Jake Garn. He was a payload specialist on the Space Shuttle _Columbia_.

Nelson retired from Congress in 1990 to run for Governor of Florida, but was lost the Democratic nomination to Lawton Chiles.

In March 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Nelson to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in his administration.

## Early life

Nelson was born in Miami, Florida. He was raised in Melbourne, Florida. Nelson studied at the University of Florida, Yale University and at the University of Virginia.

## Early political career

Nelson began his career in the Florida House of Representatives, where he served from 1973 to 1979. He then served in the United States House of Representatives from 1979 to 1991.

In January 1986, Nelson became the second sitting member of the United States Congress to fly in space along with John Glenn. He flew as a Payload Specialist on the Space Shuttle _Columbia_.

## United States Senate

He served in the United States Senate, serving Florida from 2001 to 2019.

In the U.S. Senate, he was a centrist and a moderate Democrat. Nelson supported same-sex marriage, lowering taxes on lower and middle income families, expanding environmental programs and regulation, protecting the Affordable Care Act and expanding Medicaid.

Nelson chaired the Senate Aging Committee from 2013 to 2015, and was Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee from 2015 to 2019.

Nelson lost re-election in 2018 to Republican Rick Scott by 0.1%.

## Administrator to NASA

On February 22, 2021, reports emerged that President Joe Biden was considering nominating Nelson to be the NASA Administrator. Biden officially nominated Nelson on March 19, 2021 to the position.

His nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 29, 2021 by a unanimous voice vote.

## Personal life

In 1972, Nelson married Grace Cavert.  The couple have two adult children: Charles William "Bill Jr." Nelson, and Nan Ellen Nelson. He has suffered from prostate cancer.

## Infobox (astronaut)

- **child**: yes
- **image**: Bill Nelson, official NASA photo.jpg
- **type**: NASA payload specialist
- **time**: 6d 02h 03m
- **mission**: STS-61-C
- **insignia**:


## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Bill Nelson
- **image**: NASA Administrator Bill Nelson Official Portrait (NHQ202105170001).jpg
- **caption**: Official portrait, 2021
- **office**: 14th List of Administrators and Deputy Administrators of NASA, Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- **president**: Joe Biden
- **deputy**: Pamela Melroy
- **term start**: May 3, 2021
- **term end**: January 20, 2025
- **predecessor**: Jim Bridenstine
- **successor**: Jared Isaacman
- **jr/sr1**: United States Senator
- **state1**: Florida
- **term start1**: January 3, 2001
- **term end1**: January 3, 2019
- **predecessor1**: Connie Mack III
- **successor1**: Rick Scott
- **office2**: Ranking Member of the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Senate Commerce Committee
- **term start2**: January 3, 2015
- **term end2**: January 3, 2019
- **predecessor2**: John Thune
- **successor2**: Maria Cantwell
- **office3**: Chair of the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging, Senate Aging Committee
- **term start3**: January 3, 2013
- **term end3**: January 3, 2015
- **predecessor3**: Herb Kohl
- **successor3**: Susan Collins
- **office4**: Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Fire Marshal of Florida
- **governor4**: Lawton Chiles
Buddy MacKay
Jeb Bush
- **term start4**: January 3, 1995
- **term end4**: January 3, 2001
- **predecessor4**: Tom Gallagher
- **successor4**: Tom Gallagher
- **office5**: Member of the
United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida
- **term start5**: January 3, 1979
- **term end5**: January 3, 1991
- **predecessor5**: Louis Frey Jr. (9th)
Dan Mica (11th)
- **successor5**: Michael Bilirakis (9th)
Jim Bacchus (11th)
- **constituency5**: (1979–1983)
 (1983–1991)
- **state house6**: Florida
- **district6**: 47th
- **term start6**: November 21, 1972
- **term end6**: November 21, 1978
- **predecessor6**: _Redistricted_
- **successor6**: Tim Deratany
- **birth name**: Clarence William Nelson II
- **birth place**: Miami, Florida, U.S.
- **party**: Democratic Party (United States), Democratic
- **children**: 2
- **education**: University of Florida
Yale University (Bachelor of Arts, BA)
University of Virginia (Juris Doctor, JD)
- **serviceyears**: 1965–1968, 1970–1971 (Reserve)
1968–1970 (Active)
- **rank**:  Captain (United States O-3), Captain