Clark Lindsey reports that Patti Grace Smith is leaving FAA-AST. With a tenure of thirteen years, she has led the office longer than all her predecessors combined. If it happens soon, it seems to me that it's going to be tough for the Bush administration to find a replacement, since whoever takes the job may perceive that they'll be replaced again with a new administration. Perhaps someone (e.g., George Nield?) will simply act for her for the next year.

In any event, as Clark notes, she has done good things overall for the space entrepreneurs, and good luck to her in future endeavors. Let's hope that her successor has the same attitude.