NASA Chief Scientist

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.NASA.gov

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.

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.NASA.gov

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 and was eliminated for a second time in 2025. The final abolishment of the position included two additional departments, the DEIA and the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy.

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.

ImageNameTerm startTerm endNotes1Frank B. McDonald198219872Noel Hinners198719893France A. Córdova199319964Kathie L. OlsenMay 24, 1999April 20025Shannon LucidFebruary 2002September 20036John M. GrunsfeldSeptember 2003October 20, 20047James B. GarvinOctober 21, 2004September 2005Position was eliminated in September 2005 but was restored in January 20118Waleed AbdalatiJanuary 3, 2011December 2012actingGale AllenDecember 2012August 24, 20139Ellen StofanAugust 25, 2013December 2016acting Gale AllenDecember 2016April 30, 201810Jim GreenMay 1, 2018December 31, 202111Katherine CalvinJanuary 10, 2022March 11, 2025Position was eliminated in March 2025.

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