Date: December 13th 2006

Dec 11, 2006

David Mould Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1600

RELEASE: 06-369

NASA PRESS SECRETARY LEAVES FOR D C COMMUNICATIONS FIRM

WASHINGTON - NASA Press Secretary and Deputy Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs Dean Acosta is leaving the agency to become a managing director at Qorvis Communications, LLC in Washington, effective Jan 2

Acosta led NASA's public affairs and communications activities during one of its most challenging periods following the space shuttle Columbia accident in 2003

"Dean has provided valuable guidance, strategy and leadership during his time at NASA," said Administrator Michael Griffin "He has been an integral part of my team and provided a steady influence during a challenging time in this agency's history Dean has done everything I have asked and more He will be missed "

As part of the senior leadership team, Acosta served as chief spokesperson, press secretary and senior adviser to the NASA administrator and deputy administrator He became deputy assistant administrator for public affairs in 2003 and added the title of press secretary in April 2005

"My nearly four years of public service at NASA have been the most rewarding of my career," said Acosta "It has been an honor to serve the President, represent America's space agency, and work with the best and most talented public affairs people in the business "

Prior to arriving at NASA, Acosta spent 12 years as a television, radio and print journalist, earning an Emmy Award for investigative reporting He has hosted his own radio show, written his own newspaper column and covered the energy industry in the United States, Russia, Japan, Brazil, Austria and England

Upon Acosta's departure, Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs David Mould will assume the additional duties of press secretary

For more information on NASA on the Internet visit:

http://www nasa gov

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