Michael D. Griffin is the new head of the Space
Department at the Applied
Physics Laboratory. Griffin oversees the second-largest
department at the Laboratory, with more than 600
specialists tackling some of NASA's and the military's
toughest space science and engineering challenges. His
tenure begins as the Lab embarks on several ambitious
projects, including a "fire and ice" tandem of robotic
spacecraft to explore Mercury and Pluto — the planets
closest to and farthest from the sun — and
unprecedented studies of solar activity and the sun-Earth
relationship.
Griffin succeeds Stamatios M. "Tom" Krimigis, head of
the Space Department since 1991. Griffin's experience
includes a previous stop at APL in the 1980s, when he
helped design the successful Delta 180 series of
missile-defense technology satellites for the Strategic
Defense Initiative Organization. After leaving APL in 1986,
he served as the Strategic Defense Initiative
Organization's deputy for technology, and as both the chief
engineer and associate administrator for exploration at
NASA headquarters.
Before rejoining APL, he was president and chief
operating officer of In-Q-Tel, a private nonprofit
enterprise funded by the Central Intelligence Agency to
identify and invest in companies developing cutting-edge
technologies that serve national security interests.
Griffin's resume also includes several leadership roles at
Orbital Sciences Corp. and key technical positions at
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Computer Sciences
Corp.
"Mike Griffin is an accomplished leader, well-known
and well-respected in the aerospace community," said
Richard Roca, APL director in announcing the appointment.
"He is a dedicated professional whose enthusiasm for our
critical work remained strong even while he was
distinguishing himself as a senior government executive and
a leader in private industry. We are very happy to have him
back to provide leadership for our civilian and military
space initiatives."
Griffin is president-elect of the American Institute
of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a member of the
American Astronautical society and International Academy of
Astronautics. In addition to a doctorate in aerospace
engineering, he holds master's degrees in aerospace
science, electrical engineering, applied physics, civil
engineering and business administration.
Griffin joins a laboratory about to mark 45 years in
space exploration. The Lab's 61st spacecraft, named
MESSENGER (for MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment,
GEochemistry and Ranging), is set to launch this summer
from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., and begin
orbiting Mercury in 2011.