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Dr. Jonathan F. Ormes Director of Space Sciences  Dr. Ormes is responsible for planning, organizing, and implementing the Center's programs and research in space science. He was appointed to this position in May 2001. Dr. Ormes received his undergraduate degree in physics from Stanford University and his doctorate, also in physics, from the University of Minnesota in 1967. His thesis work involved measuring the spectra of hydrogen, helium, and heavier nuclei in the cosmic radiation on balloons at a variety of different locations in the Earth's magnetic field and different times during the solar cycle. He came to Goddard in 1967 as a National Academy of Sciences Resident Research Associate and expected to stay here "for a couple of years". He has been at GSFC ever since and claims to have enjoyed it immensely. His research has been focused on measurements of galactic cosmic ray spectra at high energies, isotopic composition, and more recently on measurements of antimatter. He was made a fellow of the American Physical Society for his work on cosmic ray spectra and composition. He was the Project Scientist for the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE), launched August 25, 1997. Recently, he has turned his attention to the development of new missions such as the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST). GLAST will study high-energy gamma-ray emissions from astrophysical sources of energetic particles and improve on the pioneering studies made by the Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET) on the Compton Gamma-ray Observatory. He has been author and co-author of a number of theoretical papers about the origin of galactic cosmic rays. Dr. Ormes also has extensive experience in science management. He was Head of the Nuclear Astrophysics Branch from 1982 until 1990 when he was appointed to the Senior Executive Service and assumed the position of Chief of the Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics. In 1983, he was the Acting Head of High Energy Astrophysics at NASA Headquarters. He was awarded the NASA Exceptional Service Award for his efforts in that capacity. In October of 2000, he was appointed Acting Director of Space Sciences. He was awarded Presidential Rank Award as a Meritorious Executive in 2001. |