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Office of the Associate Administrator

The Office of the Associate Administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is responsible for directing and overseeing the nation’s space research program in Earth and space science. The Directorate engages the external and internal science community to define and prioritize science questions and seeks to expand the frontiers of four broad scientific pursuits: Earth Science, Planetary Science, Heliophysics, and Astrophysics.

Through a variety of robotic observatory and explorer craft, and through sponsored research, the Directorate provides virtual human access to the farthest reaches of space and time, as well as practical information about changes on our home planet.

  • Dr. John M. Grunsfeld, Associate Administrator

    Jan. 10, 2012

    Dr. John M. Grunsfeld was named Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. in January 2012. He previously served as the Deputy Director of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, MD, managing the science program for the Hubble Space Telescope and its partner in the forthcoming James Webb Space Telescope. And in 2008 was NASA’s Chief Scientists. Dr. Grunsfeld’s background includes research in high energy astrophysics, cosmic ray physics and in the emerging field of exoplanet studies with specific interest in future astronomical instrumentation.

  • Mr. Charles J. Gay, Deputy Associate Administrator

    April 3, 2008

    Mr. Charles J. Gay has served NASA in senior management positions for over seven years. He is currently the Deputy Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate. He was previously Deputy Director of the Office of System Safety and Mission Assurance at Goddard Space Flight Center. He also served as Deputy Director of the Heliophysics Division at NASA Headquarters where he was responsible for programmatic development and implementation of NASA’s solar physics and geospace science program.

  • Mr. Michael R. Luther, Deputy Associate Administrator for Programs

    April 14, 2008

    Mr. Luther has over 39 years of industry and government experience in the development and management of space based scientific remote sensing systems. He spent 12 years in industry prior to his 27 years of government service with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

  • Mr. Roy Maizel, Deputy Associate Administrator for Management

    Oct. 30, 2008

    Roy A. Maizel is the Deputy Associate Administrator for Management, responsible for the formulation and execution of the Directorate’s $4+ billion budget, as well as the guidance and oversight of all strategic planning and policy development activities. He is also responsible for the provision of administrative support to the Directorate's approximately 200-person Headquarters organization.

  • Dr. Colleen N. Hartman, Assistant Associate Administrator

    July 7, 2007

    Dr. Colleen N. Hartman is Assistant Associate Administrator at NASA Headquarters in Washington DC where she helps provide science and management oversight of a multi-billion dollar directorate. Prior to this position, she was the Deputy Associate Administrator for over three years as well as the Acting Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate. She provides science advice to the Administrator and helps run programs that range from earth observing platforms, to balloon investigations, to deep space planetary missions including Pluto, Mars, and Near-Earth Asteroids, to astrophysics missions such as the Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescopes. She also served as Professor of Space Policy and International Affairs at the George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs in Washington DC.

  • Dr. Marc S. Allen, Director for Strategic and International Planning

    April 3, 2008

    Marc S. Allen is Assistant Associate Administrator for Strategy, Policy, and International within NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. In this capacity, major functions include oversight of the Directorate’s relationship with the National Research Council and planning and advising on collaboration with foreign space agencies.

  • Dr. Max Bernstein, SMD Lead for Research

    Sept. 12, 2007

    Dr. Max Bernstein recently came to HQ from NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, where he served as the deputy chief for the Space Sciences Division. He received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Cornell University in 1993. His research interests include the spectroscopy and chemistry of carbon compounds in space environments, and the search for life in the solar system.

  • Ms. Stephanie Stockman, E/PO Lead

    Nov. 26, 2008

    For the past 16 years, Stephanie has played a leadership role in NASA Earth and space science education at Goddard Space Flight Center. She has been the education lead for several NASA science missions, including Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), MESSENGER, EOS Aura and Landsat-7.