All I know about him is that any time a NASA engineer said his name,
it was always with a scowl. I was told, vaguely, he "made everybody
miserable."

David Carson

https://www.nasa.gov/people/george-w-s-abbey/
George W.S. Abbey
Johnson Space Center Director, 1996 - 2001

In January 1996, George W.S. Abbey became Johnson Space Center’s
seventh director. At the time of his appointment, he had worked for
NASA for more than 30 years.

His spaceflight career began in 1964, when, as an Air Force officer,
he was detailed to the Manned Spacecraft Center. Three years later,
Abbey was technical assistant to the Apollo Spacecraft Program manager
where he supported the Apollo 1 accident investigation and was a
leader in developing and implementing critical safety improvements
required to resume Apollo flights. He later became the center
director’s technical assistant.

As NASA was preparing for the space shuttle to take flight, Abbey was
named director of Flight Operations. In this position he was
responsible for astronaut training and development as well as mission
operations support for the new program’s Approach and Landing Tests,
the Orbital Flight Tests, and early operational flights of the Shuttle
Program. He was also responsible for the selection of shuttle
astronauts, which in 1978 included the first female and minority
spacefarers. In 1985, Abbey became director of the newly formed Flight
Crew Operations Directorate, which managed NASA’s crews and the
center’s Aircraft Operations Office.

Three years later, after the loss of space shuttle Challenger and her
crew, Abbey moved from Houston to Washington, DC, where he served as
NASA’s deputy associate administrator for Space Flight. In recognition
of his extensive contributions to the nation’s space program he was
also appointed as senior director for Civil Space Policy on the
National Space Council, Executive Office of the President. After the
1992 presidential election, he was named special assistant to NASA’s
new administrator, Daniel S. Goldin, where he played a key role in
establishing the agency’s new management team following the change in
presidential administrations. Abbey returned to the Johnson Space
Center when he became its deputy director in January 1994. Two years
later he became its director.

During his tenure, Goldin appointed Johnson Space Center the “Lead
Center” for space station and space shuttle. Both programs had been
previously controlled by NASA Headquarters, and this decision gave
Abbey greater responsibility for America’s human spaceflight programs.
His authority extended into basic decisions such as reaffirming the
leadership of both programs and chairing all the Space Shuttle Flight
Readiness Reviews. During his time in this role, the space shuttle
flew more than 25 successful missions; the joint U.S. and Russian
Shuttle-Mir Program was completed, providing important information for
long-duration spaceflight; and the JSC team helped develop and launch
the first elements of the International Space Station, which marked
the beginning of a new era in space exploration.

Abbey also worked to improve relationships in the surrounding
community. He launched the Longhorn Project, giving local students the
opportunity to learn about animal husbandry, aquaculture, and fruit
and vegetable cultivation. The project cemented relationships with the
Clear Creek Independent School District, the Houston Livestock Show
and Rodeo and their local Go Texan committee, and the Texas Longhorn
Breeders Association. JSC aided in the development of the Discovery
Pyramid at Moody Gardens in Galveston, containing a celebration of the
history and future of space exploration. Five years later, Abbey
became the senior assistant for International Issues at NASA and
officially retired from the Agency in 2003.

In December 2021, the Johnson Space Center renamed the park just
outside of the main gate for Abbey, to recognize the role he played in
the nation’s human spaceflight programs. The George W.S. Abbey Rocket
Park features a restored Saturn V rocket and is a popular stop on the
tram tour for Johnson’s visitor center, Space Center Houston.

George Abbey died on March 24, 2024. NASA Johnson Space Center
Director Vanessa Wyche, marked the occasion by saying, “Today NASA
mourns the loss of former Johnson Space Center Director George Abbey,
a true visionary and transformational leader.” She continued,
“George’s dedication to human spaceflight remained steadfast. As the
NASA family mourns his passing, we are grateful for his leadership and
the legacy he leaves behind.”