Recent retirements and reassignments within NASA’s Science Mission Directorate have resulted in a reshuffling of leadership, particularly impacting the astrophysics and planetary science divisions. Mark Clampin, director of NASA’s astrophysics division, is now serving as acting deputy associate administrator for the science directorate. This follows the retirement of Sandra Connelly, as announced by NASA last fall.
Clampin explained that he accepted the one-year assignment to support the Science Mission Directorate during the transition to the new Trump administration. “They are very intense and take a lot of work,” he said, reflecting on past experiences. “I thought that the opportunity to assist [NASA Associate Administrator for Science] Nicky Fox as we go through this period was something that would overall contribute to the science that NASA does.”
Taking Clampin's place as acting NASA astrophysics director for the year is Shawn Domagal-Goldman, deputy director of the science and exploration directorate at Goddard. He acknowledged the “uncertainty and change” surrounding the presidential transition, stating, “Every layer of management, from them all the way to the top of the federal government, is going to undergo change in some way over the next month, and a lot of uncertainty, too.”
These changes follow similar shifts in the planetary science division (PSD). In a January 9th community letter, Fox announced the appointment of Louise Prockter as acting planetary science division director, beginning in the spring. This comes after the permanent reassignment of Lori Glaze and the retirement of Eric Ianson. Fox stated, “Louise’s deep planetary science and organizational leadership experience uniquely qualifies her for this critical leadership position.” She will oversee significant challenges, including the Mars Sample Return mission and the Dragonfly mission.
Fox confirmed that a competition will be held to find permanent replacements for both positions.