National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Goddard Space Flight Center
The Goddard Senior Fellows Program recognizes Goddard’s most distinguished research workers for their accomplishments and contributions to the Nation’s space program. This designation represents the highest level of achievement for active scientists and engineers at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The Goddard Senior Fellows are a special, predominantly non-managerial group appointed by the Goddard Center Director as an advisory committee for the Center Director. The number of Goddard Senior Fellows is limited to no more than about 20, plus Goddard members of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). Because of its role as an advisory committee, the membership of the Senior Fellows should reflect the scientific and technical disciplines at the Center.
1. Duties of the Senior Fellows
In addition to their regular assignments, Goddard Senior Fellows advise the Center Director on issues affecting Goddard Space Flight Center, especially issues related to research policy and the improvement of the research and development environment at Goddard.
2. Selection of Senior Fellows
Goddard Senior Fellows are appointed by the Director of the Goddard Space Flight Center, with inputs from a selection committee established by the Director. This selection committee can contain representatives from Senior management as well as Goddard Senior Fellows and others as deemed appropriate. The Fellows selected must be Goddard civil servant employees and have a distinguished and sustained record of achievement and a strong potential for continuing contributions to NASA’s programs. In general, they should not be in upper management positions.
All Goddard civil servant employees who are members of the NASEM are automatically also Goddard Senior Fellows.
3. Organizational Structure
The Fellows elect a Chairperson by majority vote from nominations made by members of the Senior Fellows. The Chair is elected for a two-year term and is responsible for organizing and chairing Senior Fellows meetings and for ensuring that action items from the Center Director get addressed.
The Chairperson is assisted by the Senior Fellows Coordinator, who is appointed by the Center Director to serve as an additional liaison between Goddard Senior Management and the Senior Fellows. The Senior Fellows Coordinator is not a member of the Senior Fellows but attends and takes notes at Senior Fellows meetings and assists in organizational efforts.
At times, subcommittees of the Senior Fellows may be formed to address specific issues. These subcommittees can be formed at the request of the Center Director or at the request of the Senior Fellows Chair. They report to the Senior Fellows and, when appropriate, to the Center Director.
4. Tenure of Senior Fellows
Goddard Senior Fellows are appointed by the Center Director for an initial term of five years, with extension of this term possible at the discretion of the Center Director. Fellows may voluntarily step down from the program at any time and for any reason (e.g., if they move into an upper management position).