Michael D. Griffin nominated NASA Administrator

President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate one individual to serve in his Administration:

The President intends to nominate Michael D. Griffin, of Virginia, to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Dr. Griffin currently serves as Space Department Head at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Prior to that, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of In-Q-Tel, Inc. He also served in several positions within Orbital Sciences Corporation, including Chief Executive Officer of Magellan Systems, Inc. Earlier in his career, Dr. Griffin served as Chief Engineer at NASA and as Deputy for Technology at the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization. He received a bachelor's degree in Physics from Johns Hopkins University; a master's degree in Aerospace Science from Catholic University of America; a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland; a master's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California; a master's degree in Applied Physics from Johns Hopkins University; a master's degree in Business Administration from Loyola College; and a master's degree in Civil Engineering from The George Washington University.

# # # For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary March 11, 2005 Personnel Announcement

VA Awards Grants to Mississippi Veterans Home

VA Awards Grants to Mississippi Veterans Home

WASHINGTON – Making sure the Mississippi Veterans Home remains a comfortable residence for veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is targeting $1.7 million in grant money for improvements to the Jackson facility.

"This grant reflects the federal-state partnership that is honoring our commitment to care for the men and women who have served in uniform," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson. "This partnership provides a comfortable home for veterans in a time of great personal need."

The grant will pay up to 65 percent of the cost of renovations, which include a new air-conditioning system, new roofs on all buildings and new bedroom furniture in the 150-bed facility. The overall cost of the project is approximately $2.6 million.

In fiscal year 2003, VA spent nearly $784 million in Mississippi to serve nearly 244,000 veterans who live in the state. In Mississippi, the VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System operates medical centers in Biloxi and Gulfport. VA facilities in Mississippi provided treatment to 8,966 inpatients and 633,758 outpatients in fiscal 2003.

Information about Mississippi state veterans nursing homes is available on the Web at vab.state.ms.us. # # # March 10, 2005 SOURCE: Department of Veterans Affairs