David C . Black
Who was the chief executive officer of Universities Space Research Association from 2000 to 2006?
Universities Space Research Association The Universities Space Research Association ( USRA ) was incorporated on March 12 , 1969 in Washington , D.C . as a private , nonprofit corporation under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences ( NAS ) . Institutional membership in the association currently stands at 113 universities . All member institutions have graduate programs in space sciences or technology . Besides the 98 member institutions in the United States , there are two member institutions in Canada , four in Europe , two in Israel , one in Australia and one in New Zealand , one in Hong Kong , two in Korea and two in the United Kingdom . Objective . USRA provides a mechanism through which universities can cooperate effectively with one another , with the government , and with other organizations to further space science and technology , and to promote education in these areas . Its mission is carried out through the institutes , centers , divisions , and programs . Administrative and scientific personnel now number about 420 . A unique feature of USRAs management is its system of standing panels of technical experts , drawn from the research community , to provide oversight for USRAs institutes , centers , divisions and programs . Origin . USRA was founded in 1969 , at NASA’s request , under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences . Just prior to the Apollo 11 Moon landing , and the return of the lunar samples , NASA sought a new partner organization to engage and organize the research community . James Webb , NASA Administrator , wrote to President Frederick Seitz , proposing a university association , chartered to advance space science and technology . The result : the formation of USRA . Webb envisioned this new association as not only working with NASA in lunar science , but also in other scientific disciplines and technology areas , in which NASA would become engaged , as its space exploration role unfolded . As the civilian space program grew to encompass missions in heliophysics , planetary science , astrophysics , Earth science , microgravity science , and other disciplines , as well as technology development , USRA worked alongside NASA . All the efforts under taken by USRA from its founding to the present day fulfil its non-profit purpose and also realize Webb’s vision of close partnership and engagement of universities . USRA’s first task : operation of the Lunar Science Institute and engaging the scientific community in the analysis of lunar samples that would be returned to Earth during the Apollo missions . Now called the Lunar and Planetary Institute , the LPI cultivated strong collaboration between NASA and the international research community to help organize a new research discipline : lunar and planetary science . The LPI helped lead research that resulted in a new understanding about the origin of the Moon . Today , the LPI , located in USRA’s facility near NASA’s Johnson Space Center , continues the important job of organizing community activities to support NASA’s exploration of our solar system , with a specialized scientific and administrative staff . Charter . On March 1 , 1968 , President Lyndon Johnson announced the creation of the Lunar Science Institute ( LSI ) , and USRA was chartered the following year as the parent organization of LSI . The initial headquarters of USRA was at the University of Virginia , where Professor A . R . Kuhlthau served as the first president of the association . In 1976 , Dr . Alexander J . Dessler became the second USRA president . Dessler moved the headquarters of the association to Rice University , where he served as chairman of the Department of Space Physics and Astronomy . In 1978 USRA headquarters moved to Columbia , Maryland . Dr . David C . Black was appointed USRA president in 2000 . Black served as director of USRAs Lunar and Planetary Institute from 1988 to 2001 , and is internationally recognized for research in theoretical astrophysics and planetary science . Dr . Jeffrey Isaacson was named president and CEO of USRA , effective October 20 , 2014 . Other programs . USRA initially concentrated on the management of Lunar Science Institute ( later renamed the Lunar and Planetary Institute ) but , armed with its broad charter , the consortium began to explore other ways to serve the university space research community as early as 1970 . Today , USRA researchers are involved with university , government and industry scientists and engineers in a broad array of space and aeronautics related fields , including astronomy and astrophysics , earth sciences , microgravity , life sciences , space technology , computer science , and advanced concepts . Most USRA research activities include related educational components . The presidents of USRA have been : - A . Robert Kuhlthau ( 1969–1976 ) - Alexander J . Dessler ( 1976–1981 ) - Paul J . Coleman Jr . ( 1981–2000 ) - David C . Black ( 2000–2006 ) - Frederick A . Tarantino ( 2006–2014 ) - Donald Kniffen ( 2014 ) [ acting ] - Jeffrey Isaacson ( 2014–present ) Current Institutes and Programs