Areas of Activity
At the National Science Foundation I’m a Program Director in the Division of Astronomical Sciences, responsible for most of the US Government’s federally funded ground-based radio astronomy facilities. In particular, these are:
The Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), with 10 sites around the continental US, Hawaii, and the US Virgin Islands.
And the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO)
in Charlottesville, VA, which operates and manages all of these facilities.
I am a part-time Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at George Mason University, and a Visiting Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
I am a thought leader in the field of critical thinking and problem solving, and developed an educational methodology for their instruction in a variety of settings (primary and secondary schools, universities, and for the adult learner). My interest in behavioral psychology and human cognition have aided in these activities.
I am an expert in leadership application and education, and am both an alumnus of the Presidents Leadership Class at CU Boulder) and serve on its Board of Directors.
Sharing the wonder of astronomy and science with the public is vitally important and one of my activities I value most.
My outreach endeavors include talks and seminars, working with the press, mentoring, and consulting for the entertainment industry. The aim is to help inform the public, aid in science literacy, and encourage individuals to pursue education and careers in STEM fields. I've made TV appearances and am an expert for space.com.