Bachelor of Arts in Astronomy; Bachelor of Science in Physics; Master of Science in Aeronautics Engineering; Doktortitel in Astrophysics & Planetary Sciences; Planetenwissenschaftler; Semifinalist bei der Astronautenauswahl der NASA-Gruppe 16; war Director of the Southwest Research Institute's Department of Space Studies in Boulder, Colorado; Hobbys: wandern, Camping, Gartenarbeit, und schreiben; seit 02. April 2007 Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters.