Bill Nelson

Clarence William "Bill" Nelson II (born September 29, 1942)^[1] is an American politician and astronaut. Nelson was the 14th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration from 2021 to 2025. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He was the United States Senator from Florida from 2001 to 2019. He lost his re-election campaign in 2018 to Republican Governor Rick Scott.

Bill Nelson
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	Jared Isaacman
United States Senator from Florida
In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Connie Mack III
Succeeded by	Rick Scott
Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee
In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	John Thune
Succeeded by	Maria Cantwell
Chair of the Senate Aging Committee
In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015
Preceded by	Herb Kohl
Succeeded by	Susan Collins
Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Fire Marshal 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. (9th) Dan Mica (11th)
Succeeded by	Michael Bilirakis (9th) Jim Bacchus (11th)
Constituency	9th district (1979–1983) 11th district (1983–1991)
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 47th district
In office November 21, 1972 – November 21, 1978
Preceded by	Redistricted
Succeeded by	Tim Deratany
Personal details
Born	Clarence William Nelson II (1942-09-29) September 29, 1942 (age 83) Miami, Florida, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Grace Cavert ​ (m. 1972)​
Children	2
Education	University of Florida Yale University (BA) University of Virginia (JD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1965–1968, 1970–1971 (Reserve) 1968–1970 (Active)
Rank	Captain
Space career
NASA payload specialist
Time in space	6d 02h 03m
Missions	STS-61-C
Mission insignia

He was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1972 to 1978 and in the United States House of Representatives from 1979 to 1991. In January 1986, he became the second sitting member of Congress to fly in space, after Jake Garn. He was a payload specialist on the Space Shuttle Columbia.

Nelson retired from Congress in 1990 to run for Governor of Florida, but was lost the Democratic nomination to Lawton Chiles.

In March 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Nelson to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in his administration.^[2]

Early life

Nelson was born in Miami, Florida. He was raised in Melbourne, Florida. Nelson studied at the University of Florida, Yale University and at the University of Virginia.

Early political career

Nelson began his career in the Florida House of Representatives, where he served from 1973 to 1979. He then served in the United States House of Representatives from 1979 to 1991.

In January 1986, Nelson became the second sitting member of the United States Congress to fly in space along with John Glenn. He flew as a Payload Specialist on the Space Shuttle Columbia.

United States Senate

He served in the United States Senate, serving Florida from 2001 to 2019.

In the U.S. Senate, he was a centrist and a moderate Democrat.^[3][4][5][6] Nelson 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 was Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee from 2015 to 2019.

Nelson lost re-election in 2018 to Republican Rick Scott by 0.1%.^[7]

Administrator to NASA

On February 22, 2021, reports emerged that President Joe Biden was considering nominating Nelson to be the NASA Administrator.^[8] Biden officially nominated Nelson on March 19, 2021 to the position.^[2]

His nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 29, 2021 by a unanimous voice vote.^[9]

Personal life

In 1972, Nelson married Grace Cavert. The couple have two adult children: Charles William "Bill Jr." Nelson,^[10] and Nan Ellen Nelson.^[11] He has suffered from prostate cancer.