Bill Nelson
Clarence William Nelson II, commonly known as Bill Nelson, is an American politician and attorney who currently serves as the administrator ofthe National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Born on September 29, 1942,Nelson previously held the position of United States Senator from Floridafrom 2001 to 2019. He isa member of the Democratic Partyand has had an extensive career in public service.
Before his tenure in the Senate,Nelson served in the Florida House of Representativesfrom 1972 to 1978 andin the United States House of Representativesfrom 1979 to 1991. Notably, in January 1986, he becamethe second sitting member of the U.S. Congressto venture into space as a payload specialist on mission STS-61-C aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia, following Senator Jake Garn. Prior to his political career,Nelson served in the U.S. Army Reserveduring the Vietnam War.
After leaving Congress in 1990, Nelson made an unsuccessful run for the governorship of Florida. He later assumed the positions of Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Fire Marshal of Florida, serving from 1995 to 2001.In 2000, Nelson won the U.S. Senate seatpreviously held by retiring Republican Senator Connie Mack III, securing 51% of the vote. He was subsequently reelected in 2006 with 60% of the vote and in 2012 with 55% of the vote. However, Nelson narrowlylost his bid for a fourth term in 2018 to then-Governor Rick Scott.
Throughout his time in the Senate, Nelson was known for his centrist and moderate approach. He supported issues such assame-sex marriage, tax reductions for lower and middle-income families, environmental protection programs and regulations, the preservation of the Affordable Care Act, and the expansion of Medicaid. Nelson served as the chairman of the Senate Aging Committee from 2013 to 2015 and held the position of ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee from 2015 to 2019.
On March 19, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his nomination of Bill Nelson asthe NASA administrator. Following unanimous consent from the Senate, Nelson was confirmed for the position on April 29, 2021, and subsequently sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris on May 3, 2021. As NASA administrator, Nelson oversees the nation's space exploration and scientific research efforts, continuing his longstanding involvement and interest in the field of space.
