Gov. Susana Martinez, R-N.M., has nominated former astronaut and U.S. senator Harrison ‘Jack’ Schmitt to serve as the state's secretary of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.
The governor says that Schmitt's experience will be helpful in ‘guiding the responsible development and protection of New Mexico's diverse natural resources.’
Schmitt was selected for NASA's scientist-astronaut program in 1965. He served as mission scientist in support of the Apollo 11 mission and flew in space as part of the Apollo 17 mission. Schmitt landed on the moon on Dec. 11, 1972.Â
After his career at NASA, Schmitt was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1976 and served in office for six years as a member of the Commerce, Banking, Appropriations, Intelligence and Ethics Committees.Â
SOURCE: Office of Gov. Susana Martinez
