@Uh
Qualifications to be a pilot/Space Monkey != Qualifications to run a massive Science and engineering organization.
NASA has a horrible reputation of going over budget, being expensive, and rockets exploding in space, on the way up, and on the way down.
Pardon me if I am wrong, but these are Engineering and Project management issues.... Surely to make NASA what it was, or to get it to do more with less, you would appoint an Engineer/Project Manager?
"...bachelor of science degree in electrical science from the United States Naval Academy in 1968, and a master of science in systems management from the University of Southern California in 1977"
If you look at what that degree entails... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_management
Congratu-freaking-lations.. your an IT Admin, Oh wait, that degree makes him an IT MANAGER, and we all know what the BOFH does to those.
"...He flew more than 100 sorties into North and South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, in the A-6A Intruder..."
Congratulations, you have shown a skill for not being shot down/Blown up... that has nothing to do with managing complex engineering projects. It just means you managed to dodge enemy fire, and not die. Your still doing better than John McCain though.
"...logged over 680 hours in space..."
Congrats, you survived NASA's rocket program, and didn't die
As for the technical assignments
Astronaut Office Safety Officer; - They put him on a rocket, it didn't blow up, therefore its safe.
Technical Assistant to the Director of Flight Crew Operations; - He fetched him coffee and scotch, helped him trim the budget, and bumlick senators
Special Assistant to the Director of the Johnson Space Center; - See above
Astronaut Office Liaison to the Safety Reliability and Quality Assurance Directorates of the Marshall Space Flight Center and the Kennedy Space Center; - Middle manager between the Astronaughts and the Bass.
Chief of the Safety Division at JSC; - Middle manager charged with making sure fewer astronauts burned up on re entry
Lead Astronaut for Vehicle Test and Checkout at the Kennedy Space Center; - Senior Crash test dummy.
Assistant Deputy Administrator, NASA Headquarters... - He was a middle manager, most likely in cahoots with the bean counters.
In summary, I see NO project management, engineering, or serious science in his background, I see a middle manager, who licked all the right bumholes.