topJan J. Sojka—President–Elect, Space Physics and Aeronomy
Gary R. Swenson—President–Elect, Space Physics and Aeronomy
Larisa P. Goncharenko—Secretary, Aeronomy
Thomas J. Immel—Secretary, Aeronomy
Joe Giacalone—Secretary, Solar–Heliospheric Physics
D. Aaron Roberts—Secretary, Solar–Heliospheric Physics
Lynn M. Kistler—Secretary, Magnetospheric Physics
Thomas Paul O'Brien III—Secretary, Magnetospheric Physics
Jan J. Sojka—President–Elect, Space Physics and Aeronomy
Jan Josef Sojka joined the American Geophysical Union in 1979. He is currently head of the Department of Physics and the assistant director of the Center for Atmospheric and Space Sciences at Utah State University in Logan. His areas of scientific interest include global-scale modeling of the ionosphere, magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, solar-terrestrial weather forecasting, data compression, and small satellite technology. He received his B.S. degree in physics from Edinburgh University (UK) in 1972 and his Ph.D. in space physics from University College, London (UK) in 1976. Sojka was employed by Utah State University in 1978 as a postdoctoral fellow, became a research assistant professor in 1980, research associate professor in 1982, research professor in 1986, and full tenured professor in 1988. He became assistant director in the Center for Atmospheric and Space Sciences in 1983 and head of the Department of Physics in 2005. He received the D. Wynne Thorne Research Award at Utah State University, 1999. He was chosen Utah Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, 2002. Memberships and committee assignments he has held include co-associate director, Rocky Mountain Space Grant Consortium, 1989–; joint chairman, NSF CEDAR PRIMO Working Group, 1990–1998; joint chairman, NSF CEDAR HLPS Working Group, 1991–; member, NASA IMI STDT Committee, 1993–1995; member, NASA SMEX Science Review Board, 1993; member, British Antarctic Survey, Upper Atmospheric Review Panel, 1995–2000; Guest Editor, Radio Science Special Section on the Second HLPS Workshop, 1997; and Third HLPS Workshop, 1999, both published by AGU; joint chairman, NASA SEC Geospace Electrodynamic Connection STDT, 1998–2005; member, NASA Sun-Earth Connection Advisory Subcommittee, 1998–2001; NSF CEDAR Science Steering Committee, 2001–2007; member of NSF CISM Science Advisory Board, 2002–; chairman, NSF CEDAR Science Steering Committee, 2005–2007. He has published over 180 refereed papers, of which 94 are in AGU journals.
Statement: The membership of the Space Physics and Aeronomy (SPA) section of AGU represents particularly diverse science endeavors. The endeavors are colloquially referred to as solar, solar wind, magnetosphere, ionosphere, thermosphere, mesosphere, etc. These separate communities have long enjoyed an autonomous existence as witnessed by the specialized workshops, meetings, publications, and honor lectures sponsored by AGU. It is laudable that these separate efforts have successfully coexisted within the SPA section, and this status needs to be maintained. For the past few decades, SPA science and, even more directly, application of SPA knowledge has introduced a greater need for coupling between the separate communities. This evolution in the knowledge front is well characterized by “Sun to the Mud” theoretical/modeling efforts, while the NASA Living With a Star program addresses similar observational objectives. The Space Weather Program, with its interagency structure, seeks to transition scientific understanding to application across SPA communities. These efforts require system science approaches and, for the SPA member, a greater appreciation of the other endeavors within SPA. If elected as president of the SPA section, it will be my mission to sustain the SPA status quo while ensuring that resources of the SPA and AGU are best utilized to promote interdisciplinary communication and knowledge transfer that support career trajectories of our younger membership.
Gary R. Swenson—President–Elect, Space Physics and Aeronomy
AGU member since 1968. Professor, electrical and computer engineering, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. Scientific interests are middle and upper atmospheric dynamics and chemistry, atmospheric dynamic measurements and measurement using optical methods, from ground, aircraft, and spacecraft platforms. Current focus is on mesospheric dynamics and measurements of the intrinsic properties of small-scale waves, their vertical fluxes of horizontal energy and momentum, wave-tide coupling, and convective and dynamic instabilities in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere. B.S., math and physics, Wisconsin State University, Superior, 1963; M.S., atmospheric science, University of Michigan, 1968; Ph.D, aeronomy, University of Michigan, 1975. Employed: U.S. Air Force, 1963–1967; NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama, 1968–1983; Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory, Space Physics Division, 1983–1996; University of Illinois, 1996 to present, and head, Space Physics and Remote Sensing Group, 2000 to present. Current member of IEEE, AIAA, ASEE, OSA, and SPIE. Authored or coauthored approximately 100 refereed publications, 60 in AGU journals. NSF CEDAR Science Committee (1994–1997), NASA Mission Operations Working Group (MOWG) (1998–2000). AGU service: Assistant Editor, JGR-Space Physics (2002–2005); GRL special issue editor, 1995; JGR special issue coeditor with C. Gardner, 1998; and JGR-Atmospheres special issue editor, 2005.
Statement: It is a real privilege to be considered for the office of president of the Space Physics and Aeronomy (SPA) section of the American Geophysical Union (AGU).
We have had tremendous successes in AGU in the evolution of publications to keep pace with the expanding research areas within SPA, whose volume seems to grow faster than humanity. We are challenged to keep abreast of research as we all multiplex a number of research projects. Electronic publishing is an expanding and important technology that can help deal with this. We need to further support access to this method, especially in the international community, to ensure that the work published through AGU receives proper attention. Electronic publications offer the opportunity to consider motion projections from data, models, and theory. These can be considered for publication and will add to visualization of complex systems and processes involved in geophysical systems. Finally, our SPA accomplishments are often based on large spacecraft missions and/or campaigns to solve complex problems, not likely addressed with a single instrument. Our community in particular benefits from the continued support of special issues, Chapman conferences, and monographs resulting from topical missions, campaigns, and research milestones.
The editorial staff and systems in place that support review and publishing are critical in maintaining the highest of standards. Our editorial system, including guest editors, offers a framework for efficiently managing this often complex process. I will continue to encourage and support improved efficiencies in this process for timely reporting.
Most important, as the SPA president, I will be open to listening and responding to community concerns and suggestions for improving our AGU and our SPA activities.
Larisa P. Goncharenko—Secretary, Solar–Aeronomy
AGU member since 1996. Research scientist at the Haystack Observatory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Major areas of interest are ionospheric-thermospheric coupling, dynamics and electrodynamics of the ionosphere and thermosphere, with emphasis on processes in the lower thermosphere. Undergraduate and graduate education in physics (Honors), 1988, Kharkov National Polytechnic University, Kharkov, Ukraine. Research positions in Kharkov National Polytechnic University (1988–1996) and Haystack Observatory (visiting scientist, 1994–1995; postdoctoral position, 1996–1997; research scientist, 1997 to present). Recipient of MIT Excellence Award (2003). Author/coauthor of 25+ refereed publications, 12 in AGU journals. Regular service on NSF and NASA proposal reviews and review panel. AGU service as reviewer for AGU journals and convener of number of sessions at AGU meetings and Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions (CEDAR) meetings.
Thomas J. Immel—Secretary, Solar–Aeronomy
Joined AGU in 1994. Assistant research physicist, Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley. Current interests are ionospheric and thermospheric storms, atmospheric tidal coupling to the ionosphere. B.A., physics, Knox College, 1990. Ph.D., physics, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1998. Postdoctoral researcher, Southwest Research Institute (1998–2000); assistant research physicist, University of California, Berkeley (2000 to present). Author or coauthor of 54 publications, 45 in AGU journals and books. AGU service as reviewer for AGU journals.
Joe Giacalone—Secretary, Solar-Heliospheric Physics
AGU member since 1987. Associate professor of planetary sciences, University of Arizona. Major area of interest is the physics of space plasmas including high-energy charged-particle acceleration and transport in the heliosphere, and the physics of collisionless shocks. B.A., mathematics, 1985, Fort Lewis College; B.A., physics, 1986, Fort Lewis College; Ph.D., physics, 1991, University of Kansas. Faculty positions as assistant professor, assistant research scientist, and research associate at the Department of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona, 1993–2007; postdoctoral research associate at Queen Mary College, University of London, 1991–1993. Author/coauthor of 50 papers in refereed journals, 21 in AGU publications. Guest investigator for Voyager and ACE. Currently a member of the steering committee for NSF's SHINE program and a member of NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Physics MOWG. Selected for the NSF Early Career Award, 2004. AGU service as Associate Editor for Geophysical Research Letters, 2001–2003.
D. Aaron Roberts—Secretary, Solar-Heliospheric Physics
AGU member since 1985. Civil service staff member, Heliophysics Science Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center since 1989. Major areas of interest include simulation, modeling, and observational analysis of the structure and nonlinear evolution of the solar wind magnetic field and plasma; and the development of virtual observatories and visualization methods for accessing and understanding heliophysics data. S.B. (1973) and Ph.D. (1983) in physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Author or coauthor of 80 refereed papers, 52 in AGU journals. JGR-Space Physics Award for Excellence in Refereeing, 1993. Postdoctoral positions at MIT (1983), Washington University in St. Louis (1984–1986) and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (1986–1989). LWS Data Environment Project Scientist, 2004–2006. Currently the NASA Heliophysics Data Environment Program Scientist (part-time detail from GSFC), working to develop the HP Science Data Management Policy, and coordinating the development of HP virtual observatories.
Lynn M. Kistler—Secretary, Magnetospheric Physics
AGU member since 1984. Associate professor in the Department of Physics and the Space Science Center at University of New Hampshire, Durham. Major interests are in the impact of heavy ions on dynamics of the magnetosphere, particularly in the ring current and magnetotail. Also very interested in space instrumentation to measure ion composition; involved in developing instruments for CLUSTER, FAST, Equator-S, ACE, and STEREO. B.S. in physics from Harvey Mudd College. M.S., 1983, and Ph.D., 1987, from University of Maryland. Prior to coming to UNH, was a research associate at University of Maryland, 1987–1988, and a visiting scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching, Germany, in 1988–1990. Joined the University of New Hampshire in 1990, first as a research scientist, then as research assistant and research associate professor. Became an associate professor in 2002. Author or coauthor of 138 publications, 71 in AGU journals. Member of NASA’s Sun-Earth Connections 2000–2025 Roadmap Committee and the Heliophysics Lunar Science subpanel.
Thomas Paul O'Brien III—Secretary, Magnetospheric Physics
AGU member since 1998. Research scientist, The Aerospace Corporation. Major interests are particle acceleration, transport, and loss in the radiation belt, ring current, and plasmasphere; space environment effects on space systems, radiation specifications, satellite anomaly resolution. M.A., 1997, Rice University; M.S., 1999, Ph.D., 2001, University of California, Los Angeles. Postdoctoral researcher, UCLA; member of Technical Staff, The Aerospace Corporation. Member of American Meteorological Society. Author/coauthor of 20 papers, 15 in AGU journals. Multiple student paper awards, JGR distinguished referee award. GRL Associate Editor.