NASA News  
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration

John F. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899
____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________	
KSC Contact: Lisa Malone
May 8, 2000

KSC Release No. 46 - 00

	KENNEDY SPACE CENTER ROLLS OUT NEW ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE

	Today, Kennedy Space Center will begin with a fresh organization
focused on safe operations of the Space Shuttle, Space Station,
Expendable Launch Vehicle programs and customers, and spaceport technology
development.

	Highlights of the new structure include creating a Spaceport
Engineering and Technology organization to focus on spaceport technology
and development and project management; a Spaceport Services group to
service the needs of the center's internal and external customers; and
establishment of an External Relations and Business Development team to
create a "one-stop shopping" for new customers and improve internal and
external communications. 

		"Our main objective is to continue safe and effective
support of our operational programs: Space Shuttle, International Space
Station (ISS) and payload processing, and Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV)
Services. At the same time we will strive to improve our ability to focus
on spaceport technology development," said Bridges.

	KSC has taken on significant changes within several organizations
over the past two years leading up to the reorganization. For
example: 1) the transition of Shuttle processing tasks to United Space
Alliance; 2) the consolidation of the Expendable Launch Vehicle program at
KSC from Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, and Glenn Research
Center, Cleveland, OH, and 3) the creation of special teams to process and
test the ISS in a multiple element configuration. 

	Since last August, a core team has been in place working on
a new overall structure for the center. Teams of employees have been
actively involved in setting up the new organizations. 

	Bridges said the number one driving force for the change is
that a reduced workforce has left NASA with critical skill shortages.
Through the reorganization Bridges said, "We hope to attract, develop and
retain a highly competent, diverse, agile and flexible workforce."  Other
factors leading to the reorganization include redundant functions within 
the current organizational structure, an excessive number of internal
customer handoffs, limited flexibility for employees, and an inconsistent
alignment with the KSC Roadmap. Bridges added, "None of the center's
nearly 1,781 civil service employees will lose his or her civil service
status, but some people will have new opportunities within the new
structure." 

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