The US space agency nominated retired admiral Craig Steidle to the job of associate administrator, with responsibilities as head of a new office, the Office of Exploration Systems -- the result of a reorganization mapped out at NASA headquarters in Washington.

The new office "is established to set priorities and direct the identification, development, and validation of exploration systems and related technologies," NASA said in a statement.

The old Office of Aerospace Technology now becomes the new Office of Aeronautics, and will now be headed by Victor Lebacqz.

The Office of Aeronautics "was created to reflect NASA's commitment to aviation research and aeronautics technologies for the nation's civil and defense interests," the NASA statement read.

"This alignment gives us the ability to specifically focus on our aeronautics and exploration systems," said NASA deputy administrator Frederick Gregory.

These management changes "will give us new opportunities for more effective leadership, policy and program success," he added.

SPACE.WIRE