HOUSTON -- In response to continuing pressure, retired Adm. Harold W. Gehman Jr., Chairman of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, removed the two remaining NASA managers from the Investigation Board.  He then, at the request of Congress, appointed Evan Marriot, the former star of the Fox hit series, "Joe Millionaire", to replace him.

Critics immediately decried the move, wondering what additional skills the former bodybuilder and construction worker could contribute to the accident investigation.  NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe stated "I don't understand this move by Admiral Gehman.  This man is just an average Joe.  He has no additional skills to contribute to the accident investigation."

Laura Brown, a spokesman for the Gehman Board, said, "The admiral is not questioning the personal integrity or the professionalism of the NASA people involved here.  However, as the investigation has progressed, it has become increasingly more difficult for Congressional officials to interpret the technical mumbo jumbo spit out by these members of the technical community.  We need an average Joe on the panel who can tell Congress what is going on in layman's terms."

Rep. Bart Gordon (Tenn.), the ranking Democrat on the space and aeronautics subcommittee, said, "I'm just astonished that Mr. O'Keefe doesn't understand the fundamental concept that congressmen have trouble understanding technical jargon."

Staff Writer Dengle Barry reporting for News2me