SCHMIDT NAMED NEW DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF DRYDEN CENTER.

Byline: Daily News

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE - Steven Schmidt has been named deputy director of NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center.

Schmidt, special assistant to the NASA administrator since January 2002 and executive director of President George W. Bush's space commission, had worked at Dryden on programs including the X-33, X-38 and X-43A experimental aircraft.

``I am pleased and excited to have Steve back at Dryden. His experience and technical expertise will be invaluable assets as we continue to advance aviation research and development,'' Dryden director Kevin Petersen said.

Schmidt also served as the executive secretary for Management on the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, and as the executive assistant for the International Space Station Management and Cost Evaluation Task Force.

NASA Deputy Administrator Frederick Gregory said, ``Steve is a great addition to the Dryden leadership team. His diverse background, knowledge of aeronautics research, management skills and business acumen will be invaluable as we implement the Vision for Space Exploration.''

Schmidt joined NASA in November 1994. He was involved with various programs at Dryden, including the X-33, X-38, X-43A, F-15 ACTIVE and SR-71, until December 2001, when he became the assistant to the Associate Center Director for Planning.

Before joining NASA, Schmidt was employed by the Rockwell International Corporation. He started as an aerospace engineer in 1983 in the company's space shuttle manufacturing operations facility in Palmdale. In 1984, he became a project engineer at Rockwell's B-1B bomber facilities in El Segundo.

He was a qualified flight crew member in the full-scale development, testing, and acceptance flight-testing in the B-1B program. He was also involved in the C-130 gunship, Australian F-111 Pave Tack, X-30 National Aerospace Plane, and other development programs.

Until 1994, he was lead flight test engineer on the X-31 Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability program, and various research and development programs.

Schmidt began his aeronautics career in 1977 as an aerospace engineer at the Air Force Fight Test Center at Edwards and participated in programs there through 1982.

Schmidt graduated from California State University, Fresno, in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. In 2000, he completed the certificate in public administration from Syracuse University, N.Y. He also completed a fellowship in the National Security Studies Program at Syracuse. He graduated with honors from Syracuse University with a degree in public administration in 2001.