30 Facts About Sean O'Keefe

Sean Charles O'Keefe was born on January 27,1956 and is a university professor at Syracuse University Maxwell School, former chairman of Airbus Group, Inc.

Sean O'Keefe is a former member of the board of directors of DuPont.

Patrick O'Keefe became a United States Navy engineer and over the years worked on nuclear submarines.

Sean O'Keefe attended Loyola University in New Orleans, graduating in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts in History.

Sean O'Keefe subsequently acquired his Master of Public Administration degree in 1978 from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.

Sean O'Keefe served on the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations staff for eight years, and was Staff Director of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

In 1989, Sean O'Keefe became Comptroller for the Department of Defense.

Sean O'Keefe was lauded for his handling of the financial aspects of the Gulf War, managing to collect large payments from US allies which significantly offset the cost of the war.

Sean O'Keefe subsequently became permanent Secretary of the Navy and held that position until Bush left office on January 20,1993.

Sean O'Keefe next became the Louis A Bantle Professor of Business and Government Policy, an endowed chair at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

From January to December 2001, O'Keefe served as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget in the George W Bush administration, a job that strengthened his reputation as a "bean counter".

Sean O'Keefe became NASA administrator on December 21,2001 after the United States Senate confirmed his nomination.

Sean O'Keefe came to NASA without formal training in science or engineering.

From January 2004 through February 2005, O'Keefe re-organized NASA to start working on President George W Bush's newly announced Vision for Space Exploration to send humans to the Moon and Mars.

Sean O'Keefe claimed that, in light of the Space Shuttle Columbia accident, the mission would be too risky, since any potential shuttle damage while visiting the Hubble, would mean insufficient fuel to dock with the space station as a "safe haven".

In 2003, it was claimed, Sean O'Keefe warned Hansen not to discuss humanity's role in global warming.

Dr Einaudi confirmed that Mr Sean O'Keefe had interrupted the presentation to say that these were "delicate issues" and there was a lot of uncertainty about them.

Sean O'Keefe developed a mission architecture for lunar exploration based on four launches of medium-lift vehicles and four space rendezvous per mission, which was immediately scrapped by Michael Griffin upon his arrival at NASA.

Sean O'Keefe announced his resignation from NASA on December 13,2004.

Sean O'Keefe has been credited for establishing the Louisiana State University endowment through the $798 million "Forever LSU Campaign", his second campaign as LSU's chancellor.

Sean O'Keefe became popular among students for interacting with them, especially during periodic 'Chats with the Chancellor' across the campus throughout the semesters, and because of his encouraging emails.

Sean O'Keefe lightly discussed his membership in the exclusive San Francisco Bohemian Club that has a 15- to 20-year waiting list, with the Louisiana State University student newspaper The Daily Reveille.

Sean O'Keefe brought aboard Paul Pastorek, the Louisiana state school superintendent from 2007 to 2011, as the EADS chief counsel and corporate secretary.

In January 2011, Sean O'Keefe assumed the additional responsibilities of chairman of the board of EADS, which was renamed Airbus Group's North American Unit.

In March 2014, Sean O'Keefe stepped down as Chief Executive to address lingering medical issues from his 2010 airplane crash injuries.

In November 2014 the Center for Strategic and International Studies announced that Sean O'Keefe had joined CSIS as a Distinguished Senior Adviser.

Simultaneously Syracuse University announced that Sean O'Keefe had been appointed as a University Professor.

Sean O'Keefe has long been affiliated with Syracuse University since his graduation.

Sean O'Keefe received Syracuse University Chancellor's Award for Public Service for faculties in 1999 and the distinguished alumni Arents Award for Excellence in Public Service in 2011.

Sean O'Keefe's uncle is the former State Senate President, Michael H O'Keefe.