Thomas Zurbuchen

Thomas Zurbuchen

Associate Administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate

Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen has been associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate since 2016. During his career, Zurbuchen has authored or co-authored more than 200 articles in peer-reviewed journals in solar and heliospheric phenomena. He earned his doctorate and Master of Science degrees in physics from the University of Bern in Switzerland. His honors include multiple NASA group achievement awards, induction as a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, a NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal and the 2018 Heinrich-Greinacher prize, the leading science-related recognition from the University of Bern.  Zurbuchen engages people worldwide with NASA’s work and the inspiration of science.

Latest articles by Thomas Zurbuchen

Engineering teams celebrate at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore as the second primary mirror wing of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope unfolds, before beginning the process of latching the mirror wing into place, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has reached its final destination. Let's celebrate the team that got it there (op-ed)

By Thomas Zurbuchen published

The successes notched by Webb, the biggest and most complex space telescope ever launched, reflect the grit and unity of thousands of people who worked together to place it in the heavens.

James Webb Space Telescope