Widely Attended Gatherings (WAGs) Determinations

2024 Blue Origin and KBR Dinner.10.30.24 JASWDC Gala.10.30.24 SPI GWU Dinner.10.30.24 36th Annual Dr. Wernher von Braun Memorial Dinner 2024 Keystone Space Conference 2024 IAC Event WIA Reception and Awards Dinner.10.10.24 2024 JPL Europa Clipper Launch Reception.10.8.24 SPI GWU Dinner.9.18.24 2024 VASBA HR AUVSI Gala Blue Origin Reception.8.27.24 AIA & Amazon Reception.8.26.24 Exolaunch Reception.8.7.24 Farnborough Air Show.7.20-21.24 Artemis II SLS Roll Out Reception.7.15.24 Astroscale Reception Tokyo.7.12.24 Brooke Owens Fellowship Dinner.7.11.24 SpaceX GOES-U Launch MSBR lunch.6.18.24 NAA Collier Dinner.6.13.24 Greater Cleveland Partnership.6.13-14.24 VAST Space LLC.6.12.24 Coalition for Deep Space Exploration Return…

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About the Office of the General Counsel

The Office of the General Counsel provides functional leadership regarding legal services and issues related to all aspects of NASA activities for Center Chief and Patent Counsel and, for Agency-wide issues, the Administrator. These services and issues include establishing and disseminating legal policy and interpreting new statutes and cases. The Office of the General Counsel is also responsible for developing the ethics and patent program requirements, establishing metrics, and developing quality standards. As a functional office Associate Administrator, the General Counsel serves in an advisory capacity to the Administrator, and…

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Academic Semester Legal Externships (HQ)

Externships with NASA Headquarters Office of the General Counsel NASA’s Office of the General Counsel (OGC) periodically has externships for highly qualified law students. OGC offers unpaid, part-time and full-time externships during the law school academic year (for law school credit). These externships are intended to expose law students to the rewards of Federal service and to facilitate their professional growth. Externships may be performed either in person or remotely (depending on NASA COVID-19 safety protocols). OGC is divided into four practice groups: Commercial and Intellectual Property; General Law; Contracts…

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International and Space Law

The International and Space Law Practice Group (ISLPG) is responsible for providing legal advice and counsel regarding international matters at Headquarters and all NASA Centers. Some of the legal issues for which ISLPG is responsible include: international law, including space law; domestic law which may impact NASA’s international cooperation; issues involving the United Nations or other multilateral organizations; international trade; telecommunications and use of the radiofrequency spectrum; international aspects of commercialization; export control; and national security. ISLPG advises on negotiating, drafting, executing, and interpreting agreements, understandings, treaties and exchanges with…

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Contracts and Acquisition Integrity Law

About In its functional leadership role, the Contracts and Acquisition Integrity Law Practice Group supports policy-level interactions with other elements of Government; provides specialized guidance and advice to the Offices of the General Counsel at NASA Field Centers regarding contract award, administration and litigation matters; and develops and coordinates NASA legal policy in these areas.  As a functional office to the NASA Administrator, the Contracts and Acquisition Integrity Law Practice Group provides legal advice regarding Headquarters-level contract selection, administration and termination decisions; drafts or comments on proposed legislation, regulations and…

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Acquisition Integrity Program

In its functional leadership role, the Acquisition and Integrity Program (AIP) supports policy-level interactions with other governmental agencies combating procurement fraud. This Program provides specialized guidance and advice to the Office of the Chief Counsel at NASA Field Centers regarding procurement fraud matters; advises on affirmative litigation in the recovery of monies resulting from fraudulent activity on behalf of the Agency; and develops and coordinates NASA legal policy in these areas. As a functional office to the NASA Administrator, the Acquisition Integrity Program provides legal advice regarding suspected fraud and…

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General Law

As part of the legal functional management team, the General Law Practice Group provides leadership in the areas of ethics, fiscal law, environmental law, personnel and labor law, civil rights and equal employment law, information disclosure law, safety and security law, alien residence issues, memoranda of understanding and other agreements, and other administrative law matters in furtherance of NASA’s strategic goals. The Practice Group provides staff to the Administrator by providing legal advice, representing the Administrator in litigation and administrative hearings, and performing special projects. Finally, the Practice Group provides…

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Headquarters and Center Chief Counsel Contacts

General Counsel Iris Lan Deputy General Counsel Christine Pham (Acting) Director of Legal Operations Bryan R. Diederich (Acting) Associate General Counsel for Commercial and Intellectual Property Law Practice Group, Headquarters Karen Reilley Associate General Counsel for Contracts and Acquisition Integrity Law Practice Group, Headquarters Scott Barber Associate General Counsel for General Law Practice Group, Headquarters Katie Spear Associate General Counsel for International and Space Law Practice Group, Headquarters Rebecca Bresnik Agency Counsel for Ethics, Headquarters Adam F. Greenstone Director of the NASA Acquisition Integrity Program (Fraud Remedies) and the Agency…

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General Counsel Organization – Headquarters

General Counsel Iris Lan Deputy General Counsel Christine Pham (Acting) Director of Legal Operations Bryan R. Diederich (Acting) Associate General Counsel for Contracts and Acquisition Integrity Law Practice Group Scott Barber Associate General Counsel for General Law Practice Group Katie Spear Associate General Counsel for Commercial and Intellectual Property Law Group Karen M. Reilley Associate General Counsel for International and Space Law Practice Group Rebecca Bresnik Agency Counsel for Ethics Adam F. Greenstone Director, Acquisition Integrity Program Monica Aquino-Thieman

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NASA Administrator Names New Head of Small Business Programs

Assistant Administrator for NASA’s Office of Small Business Programs, Dwight Deneal, poses for portrait, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, at the NASA Headquarters Mary W. Jackson Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls) NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced Monday Dwight Deneal will serve as the new assistant administrator for the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, effective immediately. In this role, Deneal provides executive leadership, policy direction, and management for programs that help ensure all small businesses are given a fair chance to work with…

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