Brian Welch                              June 28, 1995
Headquarters, Washington, DC
(Phone:  202/358-1600)

RELEASE:  95-105


CHRISTENSEN TO HEAD NEW HEADQUARTERS OPERATIONS 
OFFICE

     As part of an effort to dramatically reduce staffing 
at its headquarters, NASA is merging a variety of staff 
functions within an Office of Operations to be headed by 
Michael D. "Chris" Christensen, effective immediately.

     The new Headquarters Operations Office will 
consolidate institutional functions from seven 
organizations.  Those functions, involving areas such as 
procurement and finance, relate to the daily running and 
operations of the NASA Headquarters installation.

     "This consolidation is one more step in a process that 
will result in a 50% reduction in staffing at NASA 
Headquarters by Fiscal Year 1999," said Acting Deputy 
Administrator John R. Dailey.  "The new Operations Office 
under Chris Christensen will allow us to achieve the 
maximum amount of efficiency in the daily running of our 
organization here in Washington."

     Christensen began his NASA career as a Federal 
personnel intern in 1967.  During his tenure at NASA, he 
has worked at the Kennedy Space Center, FL, Johnson Space 
Center, Houston, TX, and the Goddard Space Flight Center, 
Greenbelt, MD, as well as NASA Headquarters.  In 1975, he 
became Deputy Chief of the Manpower Utilization Division at 
Goddard.

     In 1979, Christensen joined the Agricultural Research 
Service, Department of Agriculture, as Director of 
Personnel.  He subsequently served as Associate Deputy 
Administrator for Management.  

     In 1988, Christensen rejoined NASA in his current 
capacity as Deputy Associate Administrator for Management 
Systems and Facilities.  He has been the recipient of the 
Secretary of Agriculture's Distinguished Service Award, 
NASA's Exceptional Service Award, and a Presidential 
Meritorious Rank Award.  He and his wife, Jan, reside in 
Columbia, MD.

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