Thomas O. Paine

Thomas O. Paine
3rd Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
In office
March 21, 1969 – September 15, 1970
Acting: October 6, 1968 – March 21, 1969
PresidentLyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon
Preceded byJames E. Webb
Succeeded byJames C. Fletcher
Personal details
Born
Thomas Otten Paine

(1921-11-09)November 9, 1921
Berkeley, California, U.S.
DiedMay 4, 1992(1992-05-04) (aged 70)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
SpouseBarbara Taunton Pearse
Children4
Alma materBrown University (A.B.)
Stanford University (M.S., PhD)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Battles/warsWorld War II
Scientific career
FieldsMetallurgy
Institutions
ThesisThe effect of a molten lead-bismuth eutectic alloy on steel (1949)

Thomas Otten Paine (November 9, 1921 – May 4, 1992) was an American engineer, scientist and advocate of space exploration, and was the third Administrator of NASA, serving from March 21, 1969, to September 15, 1970.

During his administration at NASA, the first crewed lunar landing by Apollo 11 was flown as were three other Apollo missions. Paine was also deeply involved in preparing plans for the post-Apollo era at NASA.