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A Stronger Choice for NASA Administrator
President Donald Trump missed a significant opportunity when he appointed Sean Duffy as the Interim Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Duffy currently serves as Secretary of Transportation, with his primary qualification being that he won the reality TV show Road Rules: All Stars. While he may look good on camera, there are individuals who would be far more qualified to lead NASA.
One such individual is Lauren Sánchez Bezos. She not only has a deep passion for aviation but also possesses real-world experience in the field. Her father, Ray Sánchez, was a flight instructor and mechanic in New Mexico and later owned a flight school. Sánchez Bezos reportedly earned a fixed-wing certificate, though her name does not appear in the FAA database. She also trained for her helicopter pilot certification, which requires over 100 hours of training and includes exams on aerodynamics, weather systems, radio communications, mechanical systems, electrical systems, and crew resource management—skills critical for any passenger operation.
Duffy’s lack of expertise in aviation became evident early in his cabinet tenure when a United States military Black Hawk helicopter tragically collided with an American Airlines passenger plane. In response, Duffy attempted to reassure the public by stating, “Obviously, it is not standard to have aircraft collide. I want to be clear on that.” This statement highlighted his limited understanding of aviation safety protocols.
A Journey Beyond the Kármán Line
Sánchez Bezos has a unique advantage: she has actually been to space. On April 14, she rode in a Blue Origin rocket that reached beyond the Kármán line, the boundary of space. The journey lasted just 11 minutes, but it marked a significant milestone. The all-woman crew included pop singer Katy Perry and journalist Gayle King, who were along for the ride. Perry, known for her musical career, might even be considering a shift toward space exploration.
If Sánchez Bezos were leading NASA, she could speak with authority and experience. Whenever the topic of space came up, she could confidently say, “Yeah, I know. I’ve been there.”
Camera-Ready Leadership
In the Trump administration, looking good on camera was essential. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth even installed a makeup studio in the Pentagon to ensure he was always ready for press conferences. While Duffy had the charm to be cast in The Real World: Boston, his recent appearance on Fox News showed a man struggling to apply his spray-on tan.
Sánchez Bezos, on the other hand, is always paparazzi-ready. She has already invested in a Mar-a-Lago face, making her a perfect fit for Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. As a co-host of Good Day, L.A. from 2011 to 2017, she knows how to handle the camera. More recently, she appeared on the digital cover of Vogue’s June issue. As NASA administrator, she would bring much-needed flair to a typically geeky organization.
Logistics Expertise and Strategic Vision
Sánchez Bezos has demonstrated strong logistics skills. She recently pulled off a $50 million global project that was completed on time. Her wedding to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was a three-day extravaganza featuring multiple Kardashians and fireworks over the Venice Laguna. The celebration was so extravagant that it resembled the dramatic explosion of a SpaceX rocket in June.
A Potential Blow to Elon Musk
Duffy received the nomination to lead NASA because Trump dismissed original nominee Jared Isaacman just days before the Senate was set to vote. Although Isaacman denied being close to Elon Musk during his Senate hearings, he has flown to space twice with Musk’s SpaceX. He also avoided answering whether Musk was present during his job interview with Trump.
Duffy and Musk have had their differences, particularly regarding air traffic controllers and Musk’s Starlink satellite communication systems. Appointing the wife of Blue Origin CEO Jeff Bezos as NASA administrator would be a direct blow to Musk’s rocket company and ego.
Innovation and Fun
In the week before their wedding, the Bezos-Sánchez couple hosted a foam party on their yacht. This kind of innovative thinking is exactly what led to the U.S. landing a man on the moon. As President John F. Kennedy famously said in his “We choose” speech, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard…” Why not add some fun? If Sánchez Bezos were in charge of NASA, things would get done—and there’d be a lot more fun along the way.
