 He was responsible for all science, mathematics and engineering education programs.He also served in this administration as assistant secretary for research and improvement at the United States Department of Education.In 1981, Rutherford became the executive director of the Education Division at the AAAS, and in 1985, he began work on Project 2061, which coincided with the arrival of Comet Halley to help the schools to foster science literacy among all Americans.