Bill Nelson
Bill Nelson | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Official portrait, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 14th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration | |||||||||||||||||||||
| In office May 3, 2021 – January 20, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| President | Joe Biden | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | Pamela Melroy | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Jim Bridenstine | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | TBD | ||||||||||||||||||||
| United States Senator from Florida | |||||||||||||||||||||
| In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Connie Mack III | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Rick Scott | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| 22nd Treasurer of Florida | |||||||||||||||||||||
| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Governor | Lawton Chiles Buddy MacKay Jeb Bush | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Tom Gallagher | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Tom Gallagher | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida | |||||||||||||||||||||
| In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1991 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Louis Frey Jr. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Jim Bacchus | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Constituency | 9th district (1979–1983) 11th district (1983–1991) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 47th district | |||||||||||||||||||||
| In office November 7, 1972 – November 7, 1978 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Redistricted | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Tim Deratany | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Clarence William Nelson II September 29, 1942 Miami, Florida, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Democratic | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Grace Cavert (m. 1972) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Military service | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Branch/service | United States Army | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Years of service | 1965–1968, 1970–1971 (reserve) 1968–1970 (active) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Captain | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Space career | |||||||||||||||||||||
| NASA payload specialist (congressional observer) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Time in space | 6 days, 2 hours, 3 minutes | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Missions | STS-61-C | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mission insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Clarence William Nelson II (born September 29, 1942) is an American politician, attorney, and former astronaut who served from 2001 to 2019 as a United States senator from Florida and from 2021 to 2025 as the administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). A member of the Democratic Party, Nelson served from 1979 to 1991 as a U.S. representative from Florida's Space Coast, and from 1972 to 1978 as a member of the Florida House of Representatives. In January 1986, he became the second sitting member of Congress to fly in space, after Senator Jake Garn, when he served as a payload specialist on mission STS-61-C aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. Before entering politics he served in the United States Army Reserve during the Vietnam War.
Nelson retired from Congress in 1990 to run for governor of Florida, but was unsuccessful. He was later elected Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Fire Marshal of Florida, serving from 1995 to 2001. In 2000, Nelson was elected to the U.S. Senate seat that had been vacated by retiring Republican senator Connie Mack III with 51% of the vote. He was reelected in 2006 with 60% of the vote and in 2012 with 55% of the vote. Nelson ran in 2018 for a fourth term, but narrowly lost to then-Governor Rick Scott. In May 2019, Nelson was appointed to serve on NASA's advisory council.
In the U.S. Senate, Nelson was generally considered a centrist and a moderate Democrat. He supported same-sex marriage, lowering taxes on lower and middle income families, expanding environmental programs and regulation, protecting the Affordable Care Act, and expanding Medicaid. Nelson chaired the Senate Aging Committee from 2013 to 2015, and served as ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee from 2015 to 2019.
On March 19, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his intention to nominate Nelson to the position of Administrator of NASA. On April 29, the Senate confirmed Nelson by unanimous consent. He was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris on May 3. Nelson left NASA on January 20, 2025, at the end of Biden's presidency.