James M. Beggs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James M. Beggs
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| 6th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration | |
| In office July 10, 1981 – December 4, 1985 (de facto) February 26, 1986 (de jure) |
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| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Robert A. Frosch |
| Succeeded by | James C. Fletcher |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Montgomery Beggs
January 9, 1926 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | April 23, 2020 (aged 94) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. |
| Spouse | Mary Harrison |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | United States Naval Academy Harvard University |
| Occupation | businessman, consultant, administrator |
James Montgomery Beggs (born January 9, 1926 – died April 23, 2020) was an American businessman. He was best known for being the sixth leader of NASA, serving as its Administrator from 1981 to 1986.
Contents
Early Life and Education
James Montgomery Beggs was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This happened on January 9, 1926. He studied at the United States Naval Academy. He graduated from there in 1947.
After leaving the Navy in 1954, he continued his education. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree. He received this degree from Harvard Business School in 1955.
Career Highlights
Beggs had a long and varied career. He worked as an executive Vice President. He was also a director at General Dynamics.
Working with NASA
Beggs first joined NASA between 1968 and 1969. He served as an Associate Administrator. This role was in the Office of Advanced Research and Technology.
From 1969 to 1973, he worked for the government. He was an Undersecretary of Transportation. Before his time at NASA, he held many management jobs. He worked for companies like Summa Corporation and Westinghouse.
Leading NASA
President Ronald Reagan chose Beggs to lead NASA. He was appointed as the NASA Administrator on June 1, 1981. He officially started his new job on July 10, 1981.
He served as Administrator until December 4, 1985. At that time, he took a break from his duties. This was due to a legal matter. It was related to past activities before he joined NASA. This legal issue was later cleared up. The United States Attorney General even apologized to Beggs.
During his leave, William Graham became the Acting Administrator. Later, James C. Fletcher took over as Administrator. Fletcher had led NASA before, from 1971 to 1977.
Beggs officially left his position on February 26, 1986. This was after the sad Challenger disaster. He stated he did not know about the specific problems. These problems were related to the disaster.
Personal Life and Legacy
James Beggs married Mary Harrison. They had five children together. After his time at NASA, Beggs became a consultant. He worked from his offices in Bethesda, Maryland.
He stayed involved with space and policy. He was part of the NASA Alumni League. He also worked with the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. Beggs passed away on April 23, 2020. He died at his home in Bethesda.
See also
In Spanish: James M. Beggs para niños
