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For Immediate Release
CAIB PA 33-03

Date: June 9, 2003
Contact:  Lt. Col Woody Woodyard, 703-416-3532 or 713-301-2244

  Laura Brown, 281-467-8657
  Terry Williams, 202-314-6126

Columbia Accident Investigation Board Holds Seventh Public Hearing
and Press Briefing

WASHINGTON - The Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) will
hold their seventh public hearing followed by a press briefing on
Thursday, June 12. The public hearing will be from 9 a.m. to noon,
EDT followed by a press briefing at 1 p.m. EDT. Both events will be
held at the National Transportation Safety Board Conference Center,
429 L' Enfant Plaza, SW, Washington, D.C.

The Board's chairman, retired Navy Admiral Harold W. "Hal" Gehman
Jr., and other board members will hear from individuals who have been
asked to appear before the Board to discuss the history and
management of the Shuttle Program. The public is welcome to attend.

Speakers include: Allen Li, Director of Acquisition Sourcing
Management, US. General Accounting Office; Marcia Smith, Senior Level
Specialist in Aerospace and Telecommunications Policy for the
Resources, Science and Industry Division, Congressional Research
Service Library of Congress; Russell D. Turner, President, Honeywell
Engines Systems and Services. 

Following the public hearing a press briefing will be held with
Chairman, Admiral Hal Gehman and board members from the CAIB's four
working groups. The members will provide an update about the ongoing
investigation. Both events can be viewed by webcast at www.caib.us.

Credentialed members of the working press are welcome to attend the
press briefing.

Following are brief biographies of the public hearing speakers:

Thursday, June 12, 2003
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Allen Li is Director of Acquisition Sourcing Management, at the U.S.
General Accounting Office (GAO). Mr. Li is responsible for leading
GAO's work at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) and in reviewing other defense areas such as tactical
aircraft.

Prior to assuming his current duties, Mr. Li was an Associate
Director in GAO's Energy, Resources and Science Issue area where he
directed work on research and development, nuclear safety, and
Department of Energy management issues. Over the past 23 years at
GAO, he has worked in several units, including GAO's Transportation
Issue Area where he specialized in aviation safety and air traffic
control modernization. 

Mr. Li has frequently testified before Senate and House committees
and subcommittees on civil and military issues. He was selected into
GAO's Senior Executive Service and designated Associate Director of
Transportation Issues. Mr. Li has a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland. He is a senior
member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.


Marcia Smith is a Senior Level Specialist in Aerospace and
Telecommunications Policy for the Resources, Science, and Industry
Division of the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress,
Washington, D.C. She serves as a policy analyst for the Members and
committees of the U.S. Congress on matters concerning U.S. and
foreign military and civilian space activities, and on
Telecommunications issues including the Internet (and formerly on
nuclear energy). 

Previously, she held the position of Section Head for Space and
Defense Technologies and for Energy, Aerospace and Transportation
Technologies in the Science Policy Research Division.

Ms. Smith served as Executive Director of the U.S. National
Commission on Space. The Commission created by Congress and its
members appointed by the President, developed long- term (50 year)
goals for the civilian space program under the chairmanship of (the
late) former NASA Administrator, Thomas Paine.

She is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics (AIAA), the British Interplanetary Society and the
American Astronautical Society. Ms. Smith is an Emeritus Member,
founder and past president of Women in Aerospace and a Life Member of
the New York Academy of Sciences and of the Washington Academy of
Sciences. 

Ms. Smith is the North American Editor for the quarterly journal,
Space Policy and the author or co-author of more than 220 reports and
articles on space, nuclear energy, and telecommunications and
Internet issues. She is a graduate of Syracuse University.


Russell D. (Russ) Turner is President of Honeywell Engines, Systems
and Services. He was formerly President and Chief Executive Officer
for United Space Alliance (USA). At USA he was responsible for
overseeing the operations of the Space Shuttle and elements of the
International Space Station, under the Space Flight Operations
Contract (SFOC). He participated in the formation of United Space
Alliance and served as USA's chief information officer.

Prior to his position at USA, he served as Vice President and General
Manager of Rocketdyne Propulsion and Power, a division of The Boeing
Company and as Vice President and General Manager of Reusable Space
Systems for Boeing. His responsibilities included directing
space-related activities for the Space Shuttle Main Engine program,
International Space Station Electric Power System, liquid rocket
booster engines for Expendable Launch Vehicles, linear aero spike
engines for X-33 and RLV and for the overall management of such
programs as Space Shuttle and the ISS Crew Return Vehicle, Turner
also held positions with Rockwell, in information technology,
business management, business development and program management. He
was manager of Technical Systems and Computing Services, director of
Engineering Systems, division director of Information Management,
Program Director for Space Shuttle Upgrades.


Tom Young held many positions in the space community; he retired as
President and CEO of Martin Marietta Corporation. He was formerly
Martin Marietta's Vice President of Aerospace Research and
Engineering. Prior to his positions at Martin Marietta, he was
Director of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and held other
responsible positions with NASA. Since his retirement, Mr. Young has
chaired a number of advisory efforts for NASA and the Department of
Defense, including NASA's Space Flight Advisory Committee and the
Task Force on International Space Station Cost and Management
Evaluation. 

Mr. Young received a Master of Management Degree from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a Bachelor of Aeronautical
Engineering Degree and a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Degree
from the University of Virginia. He is a member of the National
Academy of Engineering. Mr. Young has received numerous honors and
awards including NASA's highest award, the Distinguished Service
Medal, for his role in the Viking Program.

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