Science Head Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen to Depart NASA in December

Science Head Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen to Depart NASA in December by Fequalsma on 15 Sep, 2022 20:57
Message from the Administrator

Science Head Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen to Depart NASA in December

Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, has announced he will leave the agency at the end of 2022.

Working alongside Thomas has been inspirational. He makes any topic, from the furthest reaches of the universe to a storm on Earth, exciting and understandable.

As the head of science since 2016, Thomas oversees nearly 100 science missions; he helped select 36 new missions during his tenure, including Dragonfly, SPHEREx, and the Mars Sample Return mission. He led the mission directorate during some of our most inspirational moments, such as sending the first spacecraft to touch the Sun, launching and sharing the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope, and landing the Perseverance rover on Mars along with the first powered, controlled flight on another planet with the Ingenuity helicopter, to name a few.

In addition to supporting the daily work of agency research and science missions with our world-class scientists, Thomas brought important perspectives in intentional and thoughtful team building, bringing together diverse teams from government, industry, and academia – melding institutional experience with risk-taking innovation – to achieve unparalleled science goals and ensure NASA teams reflect the demographics of the larger science community.

The teams launching spacecraft to other planets, operating missions that improve life on Earth, building the world’s most advanced space telescope, studying the Sun, sending experiments into space to support future astronauts’ health. All these teams are stronger because of Thomas’ leadership.

Growing up on a mountain in Switzerland, Thomas talks about being in awe of the stars and the beauty of the universe from a young age. He says that view of nature is what inspired him to be a scientist, carrying him first to graduate school in physics and then to being a professor of space science and aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He also was the founding director of the university’s Center for Entrepreneurship at the College of Engineering.

Thomas’ many honors include multiple NASA achievement awards, induction as a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, 2020 Outstanding Leadership Medal, 2021 Presidential Rank Award, and 2022 Distinguished Service Medal.

NASA explores to better understand our place in the universe, and to use what we learn to support life on Earth. Thomas has made an indelible mark at NASA – indeed, he has held this job continuously longer than any other person – and I am thankful for his dedication to our agency.

Bill Nelson
#1 by sdsds on 16 Sep, 2022 02:56
FWIW his tweet clearly identifies the departure as a resignation. Not that there was any real doubt.

https://twitter.com/Dr_ThomasZ/status/1570586542208593920
#2 by Fequalsma on 04 Oct, 2022 23:52
SMD Community Town Hall Thursday, October 6, 2022, at 10:30 am Eastern Time

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate will hold a community town hall meeting with Associate Administrator for Science Thomas H. Zurbuchen and his leadership team on Thursday, October 6 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time, to discuss updates to NASA’s science program and share the current status of NASA activities. Members of SMD, the science community, academia, the media, and the public are invited to participate by joining at the link below.

https://nasaevents.webex.com/nasaevents/j.php?MTID=m191da6a9534fbd35fbd5c6b0a26c9e62

If prompted, please use event number 2764 141 1204, followed by event password PNpncwFe834 (76762933 from phones).

Participants are invited to submit questions and/or vote up questions already posted at:

https://nasa.cnf.io/sessions/xgyk/#!/dashboard

Users must provide their first and last name and organization and can submit their own questions or vote up questions submitted by others. The meeting leaders will try to answer as many of the submitted questions as possible.

Presentation materials will be available for download and a recording will be available later that day at https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/virtual-townhall
#3 by tbellman on 07 Jan, 2023 22:45
space.com has an interview with Dr. Zurbuchen:

Q&A with Dr. Z: Former NASA science chief talks about his 6 years at the helm
#4 by Sam Ho on 12 Jan, 2023 21:51
Kenneth Chang has a lengthy article in the New York Times:

At NASA, Dr. Z Was OK With Some Missions Failing
Thomas Zurbuchen concluded six years leading NASA’s science directorate, during which he presided over some of the agency’s biggest successes.

Quote
Dr. Z has left the building.

After six years, Thomas Zurbuchen concluded his tenure as the head of NASA’s science missions at the end of 2022.

During his time there, he earned his single-letter nickname while presiding over some of the agency’s biggest successes in the exploration of the solar system and the universe: the long-delayed launch of the James Webb Space Telescope; the landing on Mars of the Perseverance rover, which was accompanied by the Ingenuity helicopter; and the slamming of the DART spacecraft into a small asteroid, demonstrating a technique that could be used if a space rock were discovered on a collision course with Earth.
#5 by Blackstar on 27 Feb, 2023 18:17
Replacement announced:

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-administrator-selects-new-head-of-science

Feb 27, 2023
RELEASE 23-021
NASA Administrator Selects New Head of Science

Dr. Nicola Fox to serve as the associate administrator for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, effective Monday, Feb. 27, 2023.

Dr. Nicola Fox to serve as the associate administrator for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, effective Monday, Feb. 27, 2023.
Credits: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced Monday Dr. Nicola Fox will serve as the associate administrator for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, effective immediately.

“As the director of our Heliophysics Division, Nicky was instrumental in expanding the impacts and awareness of NASA’s solar exploration missions and I look forward to working with her as she brings her talents, expertise, and passion to her new role,” Nelson said. “We’re all grateful for the interim leadership of Sandra Connelly, who has done an incredible job keeping the mission moving forward over the last couple months.”

As NASA’s head of Science, Fox’s portfolio includes more than 100 NASA missions to explore the secrets of the universe – missions that assess questions as far ranging as how hurricanes form on Earth, how we can support astronauts on the Moon, and whether we are alone in the universe. She also will be responsible for fostering an inclusive, welcoming atmosphere and supporting a diverse team of scientists and engineers around the country at all stages of their careers.

Fox began her NASA career in 2018 leading the Heliophysics Division, overseeing the agency’s efforts to study the Sun and how its constant solar wind affects Earth and other planets. Prior to that, she worked at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, where she was the chief scientist for heliophysics and the project scientist for NASA’s Parker Solar Probe.

Throughout her career, Fox has authored numerous scientific articles and papers, in addition to delivering science presentations worldwide. In 2021, she was awarded the American Astronautical Society’s Carl Sagan Memorial Award for her demonstrated leadership in the field of heliophysics with extensive project, program, and supervisory experience. She also is a recipient of NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal, awarded in 2020.

Learn more about NASA’s science missions at:

https://science.nasa.gov/