Message from the Chief Engineer:
Technical Excellence and Technical Authority Established

Upon taking the position of Chief Engineer, I was tasked by the Administrator to improve engineering through incorporation of technical excellence and engineering authority into the everyday practice of engineering processes for all of NASA's activities. To this end, the Strategic Management Council approved my "Proposal for Engineering Excellence" on December 13, 2005. Engineering Technical Excellence will provide the framework for restoring strong technical competence to the Agency. It will establish the lines of technical authority independent from, yet equal to the programmatic lines of authority and clarify the roles and responsibilities of those authorities. Technical Excellence implementation will recognize the programmatic differences between NASA's fundamental activities of aeronautics research, exploration, human space flight, and science. Our commitment to the promotion of technical excellence will be the foundation on which the agency ensures safe and successful operations for every one of these missions.

To demonstrate our commitment to this process the Office of the Chief Engineer signed a NASA Interim Directive (NID) on February 2, 2006, which established the guidelines by which technical excellence is to be incorporated Agency-wide. This interim directive replaces independent Technical Authority (iTA) as currently exercised by Technical Warrant Holders with a new model for Technical Excellence, which will fully integrate technical authority into NASA organizations and culture. The vital lessons that we learned through the implementation and execution of independent Technical Authority (iTA) are being utilized to improve upon and expand our ability to provide lasting technical excellence by institutionalizing technical authority within our engineering organizations. The application of technical excellence across all programs within NASA affords us the opportunity to make certain that all technical issues are heard and that proper solutions are realized. In addition, the lines of technical authority will be clear, explicit and based upon technical expertise and credibility.

 

The transition to Technical Excellence will take place no later than March 2, 2006, based upon receipt of Center implementation plans in response to the NID. This timeframe will enable us to seamlessly provide engineering rigor and discipline for safe and successful operations of the STS-121 Space Shuttle mission, as well as, other ongoing missions and activities.

 

 

Through the NASA Transformation efforts, NASA continues to implement the recommendations of the President's Commission on Implementation of U. S. Space Exploration Policy and reflect NASA's ongoing efforts to apply the findings and recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board across the Agency. As part of the Transformation, Technical Authority has been delegated to the Chief Engineer, authorizing him to further delegate this authority using a technical warrant system.