Dear Colleagues:

The Astrophysics Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate is pleased to issue this open call for nominations to serve on the Executive Committee of NASA's Cosmic Origins Program Analysis Group, or COPAG. In the coming months, NASA anticipates making at least two new appointments to the COPAG Executive Committee to replace two current members who will be rotating off the committee. Appointments will be for a period of three years.

The current NASA Cosmic Origins (COR) mission portfolio includes: Hubble, Spitzer, SOFIA, and Herschel for archival research. Later in the decade, the James Webb Space Telescope will be added to this portfolio, along with COR science interests in the The Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope / Astrophysics Focused Telescope Assets (WFIRST / AFTA) mission in development. The COPAG is an open, interdisciplinary forum that provides a conduit for community input into NASA's COR Program and for conducting analyses in support of science objectives and their implications for planning and prioritization of Program activities. The COPAG is led by a Chairperson drawn from the membership of the Astrophysics Subcommittee and an Executive Committee, whose membership is chosen to reflect the broad range of scientific disciplines and interests represented in the field of cosmic origins. Together, the COPAG Chair and the Executive Committee are responsible for capturing and organizing community input, overseeing COPAG analyses, reporting COPAG findings and inputs to the Astrophysics Subcommittee, and keeping the scientific community apprised of ongoing activities and opportunities within NASA's Cosmic Origins. Detailed information about the structure and function of the COPAG can be found on the COPAG Web site.

Nominations for the COPAG Executive Committee should be submitted via E-mail to Mario R. Perez. Nominations must include both a cover letter and a one-page curriculum vitae summarizing the nominee's relevant background. The cover letter should provide a description of the nominee's area of expertise and qualifications for service on the COPAG Executive Committee. Self-nominations are welcome. The deadline for receipt of nominations is August 18, 2014, with announcement of selections anticipated on September 2014.

We look forward to working with all of our stakeholders to continue a robust and compelling Cosmic Origins Program.

Sincerely,

Mario R. Perez
Cosmic Origins Program Scientist
NASA Headquarters

Ken R. Sembach
Chair, Cosmic Origins Program Analysis Group
Space Telescope Science Institute