Barbara Selby
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                                           
February 9, 1994
(Phone:  202/358-1983)


RELEASE:  94-23

WHITEHEAD NAMED NASA DEPUTY AA FOR AERONAUTICS

   Dr. Robert E. Whitehead has been named Deputy Associate 
Administrator for NASA's Office of Aeronautics, NASA Headquarters, 
Washington, D.C.

   "Bob Whitehead has made outstanding contributions to the 
development of NASA's subsonic programs," said Dr. Wesley L. 
Harris, Associate Administrator for Aeronautics, "and we are 
fortunate to have him in this position as we pursue our goals of 
improving U.S. competitiveness in civil aviation."

   Prior to this appointment, Whitehead had been Director for 
Subsonic Transportation since January 1992.  He joined NASA in 
1989 as Assistant Director, Aeronautics (Rotorcraft) and, in 
January 1990, became Acting Assistant for Aeronautics (General 
Aviation and Transport Aircraft).  

   Whitehead began his career in 1970 as a post-doctoral research 
associate at NASA's Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Calif.  
From 1971-1976, he was a research engineer at the Department of 
the Navy's David Taylor Research Center.  

   In 1976, he joined the Office of Naval Research as scientific 
officer for aeronautics and later held positions as program 
manager for fluid dynamics (1981-1985) and Director, Mechanics 
Division (1985-1989).

   Whitehead received B.S. (1967), M.S. (1969) and Ph.D. (1971) 
degrees in engineering mechanics, all from the Virginia 
Polytechnic Institute and State University.  He is a member of the 
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the 
American Helicopter Society.

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