The White House announced tonight President Trump’s intention to nominate Mike Griffin to be Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (USD/ATL). Griffin is a former NASA Administrator who led the George W. Bush Administration’s Constellation Program, but who also has served in high level government national security space positions as well as in academia and industry.

Griffin’s nomination to be Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering — USD (R&E) — has been expected.

Section 901 the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requires DOD to split the current USD/ATL responsibilities into two –an Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment [USD (A&S)] and a USD (R&E). The change is effective February 1, 2018.

Ellen Lord is the current USD/ATL and is expected to continue to as USD (A&S) with Griffin taking on the role of USD (R&E). Griffin’s nomination as Principal Deputy USD/ATL appears to be an interim step so he is in place before February 1.

The White House statement is as follows:

Michael D. Griffin of Alabama to be Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. Dr. Griffin most recently served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Schafer Corporation, a provider of scientific, engineering, and technical services and products in the national security sector. Previously he served as the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, where he established the architecture for space shuttle replacement and human return to the Moon and initiated the first development of commercial cargo delivery service to Earth orbit in the agency’s history. He is a recipient of the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, the AIAA Space Systems Medal, and the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal. Dr. Griffin is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, the Catholic University of America, the University of Maryland, the University of Southern California, Loyola College; and George Washington University.

Griffin was NASA Administrator from 2005-2009 and an architect of the George W. Bush Administration’s Constellation program to return astronauts to the lunar surface by 2020 and then go on to Mars, as well as the commercial cargo program for taking cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) after the end of space shuttle program.

After NASA, Griffin moved to the University of Alabama-Huntsville and later was Chairman and CEO of Schafer Corporation. Schafer was recently acquired by Belcan.

Griffin’s career has spanned academia, industry, and the civil and national security government space sectors. He was Deputy for Technology in the Reagan-era Strategic Defense Initiative Office, and President and COO of In-Q-Tel, a CIA-created strategic investor in innovative technologies.