NASA Chief Scientist
Senior science position at the NASA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chief Scientist is the most senior science position at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The chief scientist serves as the principal advisor to the NASA Administrator in science issues and as interface to the national and international science community, ensuring that NASA research programs are scientifically and technologically well founded and are appropriate for their intended applications.[1]
| NASA Chief Scientist | |
|---|---|
 | |
.jpg) | |
| Status | Position abolished |
| Reports to | NASA Administrator |
| Appointer | NASA Administrator |
| Formation | 1982 |
| First holder | Frank B. McDonald |
| Final holder | Katherine Calvin |
| Abolished | March 10, 2025 |
History
The Chief Scientist position was created to advise the NASA Administrator on budget, strategic objectives, and current content of NASA's science programs. The Chief Scientist works closely with appropriate representatives of the NASA Strategic Enterprises and the Field Centers, as well as advisory committees and the external community. The Chief Scientist represents the agency's scientific objectives and accomplishments to other federal agencies, industry, academia, other government organizations, the international community, and the general public.[1]
The chief scientist chairs the NASA Science Council, a forum for discussion of the agency policies, practices, and issues from the viewpoint of the science disciplines.[2]
The NASA chief scientist position was discontinued in September 2005 and many of the functions moved to be within the Science Mission Directorate (SMD).
The position was restored in 2011[3] and was eliminated for a second time in 2025.[4]
List of chief scientists
The following is a list of NASA chief scientists. All officeholders have earned multiple masters and doctoral degrees in a hard science or engineering.[5]
| No. | Image | Name | Term start | Term end | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Frank B. McDonald | 1982 | 1987 | [6] |
| 2 |  |
Noel Hinners | 1987 | 1989 | [7][8][9][10] |
| 3 |  |
France A. Córdova | 1993 | 1996 | [11] |
| 4 |  |
Kathie L. Olsen | May 24, 1999 | April 2002 | [12][13] |
| 5 |  |
Shannon Lucid | February 2002 | September 2003 | [14][15] |
| 6 |  |
John M. Grunsfeld | September 2003 | October 20, 2004 | [16][17] |
| 7 | .jpg) |
James B. Garvin | October 21, 2004 | September 2005 | [17][18] |
| Position was eliminated in September 2005[19] but was restored in January 2011 | |||||
| 8 |  |
Waleed Abdalati | January 3, 2011 | December 2012 | [3][20] |
| acting |  |
Gale Allen | December 2012 | August 24, 2013 | [21] |
| 9 | .jpg) |
Ellen Stofan | August 25, 2013 | December 2016 | [22][23] |
| acting | |
Gale Allen | December 2016 | April 30, 2018 | [24] |
| 10 |  |
Jim Green | May 1, 2018 | December 31, 2021 | [25][26] |
| 11 | _(cropped).jpg) |
Katherine Calvin | January 10, 2022 | March 11, 2025 | [26][4] |
| Position was eliminated in March 2025.[4] | |||||
