What's New: To receive these updates and announcements by email, manage your subscription, or review the mailing list archive, go to the NCSE List User Form. President Bush Nominates Ardent Bement as NSF Director September 16, 2004 -- President George W. Bush announced his nomination of Arden L. Bement, Jr. as Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) at an Oval Office meeting yesterday.  Bement's nomination was sent to the U.S. Senate just three days before the expiration of his 210-day appointment as Acting Director of NSF.  If confirmed by the Senate, he will serve for the remainder of a six-year term expiring August 2, 2010. In a memorandum to NSF staff, Bement stated, "The Foundation has a rich history of strong and independent Directors, and I look forward to continuing with that tradition."  He continued, "Although NSF faces significant challenges in the near future due to Federal budget issues, I am committed to the policies and operations that have stood the test of time and have helped make NSF an extraordinary agency."  Bement said, "This is an extraordinary and inspiring honor for me -- and one that I feel very humble in accepting."   Rep. Sherwood Bohlert, Chairman of the House Science Committee, said, "I'm delighted that the President has nominated Arden Bement to be the Director of the National Science Foundation.  Arden knows the agency well and brings a wealth of experience in industry, government and academia to the job.  His calm, soft-spoken, steady, open-minded and firm leadership has already left its mark on NSF.  With a permanent appointment, he will be able to be an even more forceful, effective and inventive director.  It would be hard to think of a better person for the job."   Arden Bement became Acting Director of the National Science Foundation on February 22, 2004.  He joined NSF from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, where he has been Director since December 7, 2001.  Prior to his appointment as NIST director, Bement served as the David A. Ross Distinguished Professor of Nuclear Engineering and head of the School of Nuclear Engineering at Purdue University.  He previously held a variety of positions in academia, industry and government, including senior positions with the Department of Defense.  Bement has served on the National Science Board, which is the governing body of NSF.  He earned his bachelor's degree from the Colorado School of Mines, his master's degree from the University of Idaho, and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. Bement will continue serving as Acting NSF Director while his nomination is pending before the Senate.  His nomination ended speculation that NSF might be left without a strong leader as Congress completes action on its FY 2005 budget and the agency prepares its FY 2006 budget request.   Bement was appointed Acting Director of NSF when Rita Colwell stepped down as Director in February.  Shortly after leaving NSF, Rita Colwell rejoined the Board of Directors of the National Council for Science and the Environment.   -------------------------------------------------- Craig Schiffries and Mary Alta Shockley National Council for Science and the Environment 1707 H Street, NW, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20006 Tel: 202-530-5810 E-mail:  schiffries@NCSEonline.org

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