Deputy Director, Earth Sciences Division, NASA GSFC

Dr. James (Jim) Irons is the Deputy Director of the Earth Sciences Division (ESD) at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The ESD provides scientific leadership to achieve NASA's strategic goals in Earth science studies (biosphere, atmospheric, oceanic, geologic processes and their interactions) through the analysis, interpretation, and application of data obtained from instruments from space complemented by airborne, ground-based, and laboratory measurements. He participates jointly with the Director of ESD in managing all aspects of Division responsibilities, including scientific research planning, concept development for new missions, supervision of staff, budget and workforce planning, and, in the Director's absence, may act with full authority in the management of the Division. Dr. Irons is also the NASA Landsat 8 Project Scientist; in that capacity, he works with NASA's partner in the Landsat program, the U.S. Geological Survey, to ensure that mission operations meet science requirements following the February 11, 2013 launch of Landsat 8 (known as the Landsat Data Continuity Mission before launch). Prior to 2007, he worked 28 years as a physical scientist in the Biospheric Sciences Branch, NASA GSFC, where he served as the Landsat 7 Deputy Project Scientist beginning in 1992. He then served as the Associate Deputy Director for Atmospheres from 2007 to 2013 and as the Deputy Director for Hydrospheric and Biospheric Sciences in 2014. Dr. Irons received his B.Sc. degree and M.Sc. degree from the Pennsylvania State University. He received his Ph.D. degree in agronomy in 1993 from the University of Maryland College Park.