Lisa Nowak reassigned to training duties

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, March 21 (UPI) -- Lisa Nowak, the former NASA astronaut accused of attempted kidnapping last month, has been reassigned to a Texas air station to serve as a training officer.

The Corpus Christi (Texas) Caller-Times said that the U.S. Navy captain, who is suspected of attempting to kidnap Air Force Captain Colleen Shipman in February, will serve at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi as a training instructor.

A spokesman for the base's chief of naval air training clarified Nowak's new role as being limited to developing training programs and curriculum.

"(Nowak) will have more of a course developer role, rather than be a direct instructor," Lt. Sean Robertson said.

Her assignment at the base is set to begin in April.

Nowak was fired from her NASA post shortly after being accused of trying to kidnap her romantic rival in the pursuit of Navy Cmdr. Bill Oefelein.

The paper said that NASA officials denied their decision was based on the accusation and Nowak has maintained her innocence in the matter.