Robert Mirelson/Brian Dunbar

Headquarters, Washington Nov. 27, 2002

(Phone: 202/358-1600)

RELEASE: 02-231

ARNAULD NICOGOSSIAN RETIRES AFTER MORE THAN 30 YEARS WITH

NASA

Administrator Sean O'Keefe has announced the retirement

of Arnauld E. Nicogossian, M.D., effective Jan. 3, 2003. Dr.
Nicogossian will join the School of Public Policy at George
Mason University in Fairfax, Va., where he will head the
Office of Medical Policy.

Since June 3, 2001, Dr. Nicogossian has been Senior Advisor

to the NASA Administrator for agency-wide issues related to
health care provisions and aerospace medicine.

"We at NASA will miss having access to Dr. Nicogossian's

wealth of experience and leadership in space medicine on a
day-to-day basis," said Administrator O'Keefe.

Nicogossian held increasingly responsible positions in NASA

research and development areas for more than 30 years. He was
named Associate Administrator for Life and Microgravity
Sciences and Applications in May 1996. In this capacity he
managed the planning and conduct of international ground- and
space-based experiments in life sciences, life-support
technology, biotechnology, materials sciences, aerospace
medicine, occupational health and commercial programs.

Nicogossian has contributed significantly to the NASA mission

of ensuring crew health in human exploration missions. He
established the Astronaut Longitudinal Health Study, designed
to protect the health of future space travelers, and
developed close interactions with the National Institutes of
Health, resulting in research programs for Space Shuttle
missions.

Nicogossian served as the lead physician for NASA's first

international human space flight mission, the Apollo-Soyuz
Test Project. He also planned for and implemented research
activities for the Shuttle-MIR missions. Nicogossian was
instrumental in transferring space technology for the benefit
of health on Earth: he pioneered the application of remote-
sensing and geographic information to the detection of
vector-borne infectious diseases and the use of telemedicine
for humanitarian help in international disaster relief.
In July 2000, Nicogossian was instrumental in the
establishment of the NASA Office of the Chief Health and
Medical Officer and served as its first director.

Since January 2001, Nicogossian has provided consultative

services to NASA while serving as an assistant professor at
the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences,
Bethesda, Md., where he designed and continues to teach a
course on the history of international health and its impact
on policy and economics. He has also been a distinguished
visiting scholar for the International Programs Office at the
University of Maryland, College Park.

Nicogossian has continued his academic activities as a

Distinguished Visiting Professor at George Mason University.
He developed an International Medical Policy and Processes
course for the School of Public Policy, reflecting public
health issues in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. He is
engaged in research in the areas of medicine of extreme
environments, international public policy and homeland
security.

A diplomate of the American Board of Preventive Medicine,

Nicogossian is also a Fellow of the American College of
Preventive Medicine, American College of Physicians and
Aerospace Medical Association. He is an author of 50
scientific articles, has contributed to six books, and is the
editor of two major textbooks in space physiology and
medicine.

Nicogossian has received numerous honors and awards

including: NASA Distinguished Service Medal; NASA
Contribution and Invention Award; Presidential Letter of
Commendation for Community Services; S.P. Korolev Medal from
the Russian Federation of Cosmonautics; W. Randolph Lovelace
II Award from the American Astronautical Society; and the
International Academy of Astronautics Life Sciences Book
Award.

-end-