[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 132 (Tuesday, December 5, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2072]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2072]]
                      IN HONOR OF NANCY ANN BUDDEN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 5, 2006

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my good friend Nancy Ann 
Budden as she transitions to a new career. She currently serves as 
Associate Provost for Strategic Development at the Naval Postgraduate 
School in Monterey, California, and as of December 1, 2006 she will 
become the Director for Counter Terrorism Technology under the 
Secretary of Defense.
  Nancy graduated from Carmel High School with the highest honors, 
earned her Bachelor of Sciences in Earth Sciences from the University 
of California at Santa Cruz in 1974, went on to get her Master of 
Sciences in Marine Geology from Oregon State University's School of 
Oceanography in 1977, and also took an M.B.A. at California Lutheran 
University's Graduate School of Business in 1982, again with highest 
honors. From earth science to counter terrorism seems like a big step, 
but it's not at all surprising for those of us who know Nancy.
  In 1977 Ms. Budden joined Union Oil Company of California, (UNOCAL), 
as an exploration geologist and oceanographer. There she conducted 
research and wellsite geology, and served as chief scientist on 
research vessels conducting exploratory cruises off the shore of 
California.
  In 1983 she joined the National Science Foundation in Washington D.C. 
as a White House Placement in the Reagan Administration, where she 
worked in Science Policy and Planning for the Assistant Director for 
Geosciences.
  Nancy began a long career with NASA in 1988 at the Johnson Space 
Center in Houston, Texas, where she was Manager of the Office of 
Science Integration within the Lunar and Mars Exploration Program 
Office. During those years she participated in mission planning for 
human missions to the Moon and to Mars, published technical papers in 
professional journals and books, spoke to professional and government 
audiences around the world, and appeared on television programs and 
films dealing with the human exploration of space. She accepted several 
special assignments: Project Scientist for the NASA and NSF Antarctic 
Space Analog Program, and Acting Deputy Director of NASA's Mission 
Development Office. Nancy continues her association with NASA to this 
day as Acting Chair of NASA Headquarters Advisory Committee on 
Planetary Protection, and as Visiting Scientist to the Lunar and 
Planetary Institute. She is also an Associate Fellow of the American 
Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
  In 1999 Nancy's husband, R. Terrance Budden, President of UNOCAL, was 
transferred to Dhaka, Bangladesh with UNOCAL Bangladesh, Ltd. Nancy and 
their son, Spencer, accompanied him on this assignment. Nancy worked 
two years there as Director of the Office of External Affairs. In that 
short period of time Nancy was instrumental in building the first 
tuberculosis hospital in Bangladesh, four regional libraries, and seven 
schools. She was a team leader for the regional joint USAID and UNOCAL 
Polio Campaign, and in 2000 she coordinated national flood relief 
efforts with CARE and Shell Oil Company.
  After Bangladesh she returned to the Monterey Bay area with her 
family and began yet another career at the Naval Postgraduate School as 
Associate Provost for Strategic Development. In this capacity she 
worked with various directorates within the defense, intelligence and 
academic realms to advance the mission and accomplishments of NPS. 
These included the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Combatant 
Commands, Combating Terrorism Technology Task Force, OSD Office of 
Stabilization and Reconstruction, Departments of Homeland Defense and 
Homeland Security, the Office of Naval Research, NASA, the National 
Science Foundation, and advisory bodies such as the Defense Science 
Board, National Research Council, and the Naval Research Advisory 
Committee.
  I have known and worked with Nancy over a number of years, but 
especially in helping save the NPS and DLI from base closure efforts. 
Her inside work was most helpful and in the end, successful.
  Mr. Speaker, I join her colleagues, friends, and family in 
congratulating her on this well-deserved promotion.

                          ____________________