Joe Rothenberg, seen earlier this year at Kennedy Space Center, says he will retire next month. Photo: NASA

Joseph H. Rothenberg, Associate Administrator for Space Flight at NASA Headquarters in Washington, Tuesday announced his plans to retire from the Agency, effective December 15. No successor has been selected.

Rothenberg, who joined NASA in 1983, was named Associate Administrator in January 1998 and is in charge of NASA's human exploration and development of space. Before coming to NASA Headquarters, he served as Director of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., beginning in 1995.

"Under Joe's guidance NASA was able to complete the first phase of construction of the International Space Station and begin human operations onboard the orbiting research platform," said NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin. "His work has established the knowledge base needed for safe and effective systems that will allow humans to live and work for extended periods in space."

As Associate Administrator, Rothenberg is responsible for establishing policies and direction for the Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs, as well as for space communications and expendable launch services. In addition, he is responsible for the operation and oversight of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama.

Rothenberg joined Goddard in 1983 and was responsible for space systems development and operations, and for execution of the scientific research program for NASA's Earth-orbiting science missions. He is widely recognized for leading the development and successful completion of the highly publicized first servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope, which corrected the telescope's flawed optics.

From 1981 to 1983, Rothenberg served as Executive Vice President of Computer Technology Associates, Inc., Space Systems Division, McLean, Va., where he managed all ground test and operations systems-engineering projects. Those projects included the Hubble Space Telescope, Solar Maximum repair mission, and space tracking and data system architecture projects.

Rothenberg was with Grumman Aerospace from 1964 until 1981, where he held a variety of project engineering and management positions for hardware development and systems engineering, and for tests and operations of spacecraft, aircraft and submersible research vehicles.

He was recipient of the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 1990. In 1994 and 2000, he received NASA Distinguished Service Medals, and in 1995 he received the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal. In 1995 and 2001, Rothenberg received Senior Executive Service Presidential Rank Meritorious Executive Awards.

"NASA began construction of the International Space Station in 1998. Joe came to us at a time when we needed his engineering and management expertise," added Administrator Goldin. "He helped to lay the foundation for the single largest international cooperative space project ever undertaken. We're now ready to take the next step and believe the International Space Station will inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers and explorers."