Appendix 3

Summary of My Eyes-Only Draft Memorandum to Mr. Webb, 15 December 1966

The subject of this memo was NASA management. The first paragraph states, “In considering your questions relating to my views on organization as contained in your draft memo of 11/16/66, I found it helpful to start think-ing of individual relationships, then to analyze organizational structure and communications in general, before review-ing specific changes that might improve NASA’s effectiveness.” The 14-page discourse rationalized the need for a new Associate Administrator for Management and Administration. Ultimately, the function was named the Office for Organization and Management. How these ideas were combined with those of Jim Webb and Harry Finger is dis-cussed on pages 73, 91, and 92 of the text. The responsibilities of the proposed Associate Administrator are sum-marized below in an attachment to the 15 December memorandum.

Management and Administration

The Administrator, Deputy Administrator, Associate Deputy Administrator, the four Associate Administrators, and the Assistant Administrators will look to this office for support, advice, evaluation, and direct action where specified in matters related to the internal administration of the agency. The functions to be grouped in this office are indicated below. Seven main groups are now envisaged within the new office, with the tentative names and functions listed below.

  1. The Resource Administration
    1. Budget—perform all budget functions (see list below); support AA’s in their functions with co-located staffs; and support the new administrator for Program Planning and Analysis in the Office of the Administrator on budget and related matters.
      • Formulation and review of budget estimates and operating plans
      • Preparation of DOD and Congressional submissions
      • Development and review of operating plans and 506’s and relative documents
      • Review resource implications of Program Approval Documents
      • Monitoring and review of recurring financial and program reports Conduct financial operations
      • Liaison and point of contact on budgeting and programming matters with BOB and Congressional committees
    2. Systems—develop and supervise all agency-wide management, information, and control systems (see list below); support AA’s in their functions, with co-located staffs where appropriate; and sup-port and be responsive to the needs of the new administrator for Program Planning and Analysis in the Office of the Administrator.
      • Programming
      • Budgeting
      • Accounting
      • Manpower
      • Documentation
      • Agency Reports
      • Other information and control systems
  2. Manpower and Personnel—perform manpower and personnel functions (see list below); support AA’s with co-located staffs if necessary and appropriate.
    • Manpower planning, review, allocations, and controls
    • Personnel planning and operations
    • Training Health
    • Related functions
  3. Industry Affairs—responsible for:
    • Procurement Labor relations
    • Inventions and contributions
  4. Institutional Development and Support—responsible for:
    • Facilities management
    • Transportation and logistics Property and supply Security
    • Safety
    • Occupational medicine
    • Technical support (reliability and quality assurance)
  5. Compliance and Appraisal—responsible for:
    • Technical and general evaluations
    • Audit
    • Inspections
  6. Headquarters and Administration
  7. Management Analysis