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Lyles takes name out of running for NASA's top job

unknown Retired Air Force Gen. Lester L. Lyles, a DPL board member who is also a retired commander at Wright-Patt.

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By John Nolan, Staff Writer Updated 12:45 PM Wednesday, April 29, 2009

DAYTON — Retired Air Force Gen. Lester L. Lyles said Wednesday, April 29, that the White House indicated he was the top candidate to become the next NASA administrator, but that he has taken his name out of consideration.

Lyles, 62, said that he serves on various corporate boards and has an array of stock holdings and the opportunity to acquire more stock, and that giving those up in order to head the National Aeronautics and Space Administration would have been a financial hardship.

Lyles, in Dayton for a shareholders’ meeting of DPL Inc., on whose board he serves, said the White House has asked him to reconsider, but his decision is final.

“I felt guilty. They need somebody,” Lyles said.

But, he added, “It would have been too big a financial penalty. I didn’t want to do that to my family.”

He said that the White House made an additional effort to try and get him to succeed former NASA boss Michael Griffin, who resigned along with other former Bush administration officials when President Obama took office on Jan. 20.

“They appealed to my patriotism. But, I reminded them that I’ve already given 35 years to the United States Air Force,” said Lyles, who is a former Air Force vice chief of staff and formerly commanded the Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He now lives near Washington, D.C., and works as a business consultant, in addition to serving on corporate boards.

The White House and NASA, through spokeswomen, declined comment Wednesday.

Lyles said he still remains involved in NASA matters as a member of the NASA Advisory Council, a congressionally sanctioned body that advises the space agency’s administrator.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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