Courtney Stadd was President George W. Bush's transition team's director regarding the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) during 2000 and 2001. He subsequently served as NASA chief of staff and White House liaison. He received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal in 2001 for "his extraordinary vision, leadership, and dedication". Stadd left the agency in 2003 to return to Capitol Solutions, a management consulting firm with aerospace clients seeking government contracts. Stadd eventually returned to serve a similar role for the next NASA Administrator, Michael Griffin. A graduate of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, Courtney focused on international relations and economics. Later he did some graduate course work in public administration at George Washington University.