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AGU Elections: Candidates for 2010–2012 Union Officers, Board of Directors and Sections Officers
Candidates for Space Physics and Aeronomy
Peter Riley—President–elect, Space Physics and Aeronomy
James Klimchuk—President–elect, Space Physics and Aeronomy
Larisa P. Goncharenko—Secretary, Aeronomy
Michael P. Hickey—Secretary, Aeronomy
Ian G. Richardson—Secretary, Solar and Heliospheric Physics
Dana W. Longcope—Secretary, Solar and Heliospheric Physics
Michael J. Wiltberger—Secretary, Magnetospheric Physics
Aaron J. Ridley—Secretary, Magnetospheric Physics
Section Officer Roles and Responsibilities
Biographies and Statements
Peter Riley—President–elect, Space Physics and Aeronomy
Current major scientific interests include global magnetohydrodynamic simulations of large-scale heliospheric processes, including solar wind streams and coronal mass ejections, as well as the analysis and interpretation of a variety of solar and interplanetary data. B.S. in applied mathematics and astrophysics, 1988, University College Cardiff; M.S. in astronomy and astrophysics, 1989, University of Sussex (thesis title: "Magnetic reconnection in astrophysics"); and Ph.D. in space physics and astronomy, 1995, Rice University (thesis title: "Electrodynamics of the low latitude ionosphere"). Postdoctoral fellow (1994–1996), University of Arizona; postdoctoral fellow and technical staff member (1996–1998), Los Alamos National Laboratory; scientist, Scibernet (1998); research scientist and senior scientist, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC; 1999–2008); and senior scientist and CFO, Predictive Science (2008 to present). Over 30 peer-reviewed first-authored papers, approximately half in AGU journals. Approximately 100 coauthored publications. Group achievement award for contribution to Advanced Composition Explorer mission; Editor's Citation for Excellence in Reviewing for Journal of Geophysical Research. Currently interim editor in chief for Reviews of Geophysics, member of CCMC Science Committee, NASA's Heliophysics Management Operations Working Group (MOWG), SPA Executive committee; served previously as editor for Reviews of Geophysics; associate editor for Geophysical Research Letters; chair of Solar, Heliospheric, and Interplanetary Environment (SHINE) organization; and member of several NASA Science Definition Teams and programmatic steering committees.
Statement: It is an honor to be nominated for the position of SPA president. With the retirement of our prior executive director, Fred Spilhaus, AGU is positioned to undergo some potentially profound challenges, transformations, and, hopefully, improvements over the next few years. I would like to be a part of the governance that helps accomplish these changes. During my career, I have worked on a range of scientific problems within the ionosphere, the Earth's magnetosphere, the heliosphere, and the solar corona. This, together with my experience as an editor for several AGU journals, and participation on the Executive Committee, has given me a broad appreciation of SPA-related issues. AGU, I believe, has, and continues to, serve the needs of its SPA members well; but there is always room for improvement. Two specific areas that I would like to focus on are meetings and publications. Relative to the AGU community as a whole, publication by SPA members and attendance at AGU meetings has decreased. While the origin of these trends may, in part, reflect a natural evolution in our field, past and present AGU policies have undoubtedly been a factor. I would like the opportunity to address and help fix them. If elected, I will strive to maintain the current SPA programs that have made our section so successful and endeavor to improve our status within AGU. I will look for ways to streamline the publication process and increase our visibility and participation at AGU meetings. These elections come at an important time for the SPA community: Please take the time to vote for Jim Klimchuk (who would do an outstanding job if elected), or me.
James Klimchuk—President–elect, Space Physics and Aeronomy
Scientific interests include theoretical and observational studies of basic plasma and magnetic field processes, such as heating, instability, reconnection, eruption, and radiation, especially as applied to the solar corona. Ph.D. in astrophysics, University of Colorado, 1985. Astrophysicist, Naval Research Laboratory, 1994–2008; senior research scientist, Stanford University, 1987–1994; National Research Council postdoc, Naval Research Laboratory, 1985–1987. Chair, Solar Physics Division, American Astronomical Society (AAS), 2005–2007; vice-chair, 2004–2005, 2007–2008; committee, 1995–1997, 2008 to present; president, Commission 10 (Solar Activity), International Astronomical Union (IAU), 2006–2009; vice-president, 2003–2006; vice-president, Division II (Sun and Heliosphere), IAU, 2009 to present; AAS Committee on Astronomy and Public Policy, 2007 to present; NASA Sun-Earth Connections Advisory Subcommittee, 2001–2004; NASA Solar and Heliospheric MOWG, 1992–1996, 2000–2001; NSF Committee of Visitors, 2007–2008; SHINE Steering Committee, 2001–2004; Solar Physics Editorial Board, 2000 to present; numerous other committees and panels. More than 80 refereed publications. Honorary Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. AGU Program Committee, 2005, 2008.
Statement: A number of experiences have prepared me to be an effective SPA president. As chair of the SPD/AAS and president of IAU Commission 10, I learned that it takes vision, inclusiveness, action, and good judgment to lead a major professional organization. As a member of NASA and NSF advisory committees, I worked for the common good with colleagues from all the subdisciplines of the SPA. As SPD program chair and AGU Program Committee member for two Joint Assemblies, I participated in the many behind-the-scenes activities that are required for a successful meeting. And through my service on the AAS Public Policy Committee and involvement in several Congressional Visits Days, I learned how to interact effectively with officials in both the legislative and executive branches. These experiences allowed me to develop excellent working relationships with our colleagues at NASA, NSF, and AGU headquarters. Significant changes are happening in AGU. We have a new executive director for the first time in 4 decades, and the new governance structure will soon be in place. As president during this critical period, I will actively seek input from the entire SPA community as we define our role for the future. Advocacy is one area that needs improvement. SPA must have a stronger voice in advertising the excitement and importance of our science and articulating the value of healthy funding for our research. We must stand together to achieve our goals, and I would be honored to lead if elected.
Larisa P. Goncharenko—Secretary, Solar–Aeronomy
Major areas of interest are ionospheric-thermospheric coupling, dynamics and electrodynamics of ionosphere and thermosphere, with emphasis on processes in the lower thermosphere and coupling with lower altitudes. 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, MIT (visiting scientist, 1994–1995; postdoctoral position, 1996–1997; research scientist, 1997 to present). Recipient of MIT Excellence Award (2003), NASA Group Achievement Award (2008). Author/coauthor of ~30 refereed publications, 18 in AGU journals. Goncharenko, L. P., and S.-R. Zhang (2008), Ionospheric signatures of sudden stratospheric warming: Ion temperature at middle latitude, Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L21103, doi:10.1029/2008GL035684; Goncharenko, L. P., J. E. Salah, J. C. Foster, and C.-S. Huang (2004), Variations in lower thermosphere dynamics at midlatitudes during intense geomagnetic storms, J. Geophys. Res., 109, A04304, doi:10.1029/2003JA010244. AGU service as secretary, Space Physics and Aeronomy section (2008–2010 term), reviewer for AGU journals, and convener of a number of sessions at AGU meetings and Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions (CEDAR) meetings. Member of the CEDAR Science Steering Committee (2008–2010 term). Regular service on U.S. National Science Foundation and NASA proposal reviews and review panels.
Michael P. Hickey—Secretary, Solar–Aeronomy
Main area of scientific interest is the numerical simulation of acoustic-gravity wave propagation and effects in the terrestrial and planetary atmospheres. Received a B.S. degree (physics, 1979, with honors) and a Ph.D. (space physics, 1986) from La Trobe University, Australia. A USRA associate scientist at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (1986–1990), followed by FWG Associates (1990–1992) and Physitron (1992–1993). From 1993 to 1998 a senior research scientist at University of Alabama in Huntsville. Joined Clemson University in 1998, attaining the rank of associate professor in 2002. Joined Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in 2002, attaining tenure and full professor status in 2005. Became associate dean and director of the ERAU TeachSpace program in 2005. Received a NASA Group Achievement Award in 1991 (NASP) and the ERAU Researcher of the Year Award in 2005. Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society (2007) and a member of the American Meteorological Society (1997). Served on the National Science Foundation CEDAR Science Steering Committee (1997–2000). Currently on the state governor–appointed board of directors of Space Florida (2007) and associate director of the Florida Space Grant Consortium (2009). Published approximately 50 refereed papers, 38 in AGU journals.
Ian G. Richardson—Secretary, Solar and Heliospheric Physics
Areas of interest include solar energetic particles and cosmic rays; interplanetary coronal mass ejections, shocks, and corotating interaction regions; geomagnetic storms; energetic particles at comets and in the geomagnetic tail. B.S. in physics (1978) and Ph.D. in cosmic rays and space physics (1983) from Imperial College London. Postdoctoral researcher at Imperial College (1983–1988); at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/University of Maryland since 1988. Author/coauthor of 120 refereed papers, 70 in AGU journals. Selected references include Richardson, I. G., et al., Major geomagnetic storms (Dst = -100 nT) generated by corotating interaction regions, J. Geophys. Res., 111, A07S09, doi:10.1029/2005JA011476, 2006; Richardson, I. G., Energetic particles and corotating interaction regions in the solar wind, Space Sci. Rev., 111, 267, 2004; Cane, H. V., and I. G. Richardson, Interplanetary coronal mass ejections in the near-Earth solar wind during 1996–2002, J. Geophys. Res., 108(A4), 1156, doi:10.1029/2002JA009817, 2003; Richardson, I. G., et al., Properties of energetic water group ions in the extended pick up region surrounding comet Giacobini Zinner, Planet. Space Sci., 36, 1429, 1988. AGU Editor's Citation for Excellence in Refereeing: JGR-Space Physics (1990, 2004); GRL (1995, 2009); Space Weather (2006). Annales Geophysicae "Best Reviewer for Solar Corona and Heliospheric Physics" in 2006. Member of the National Space Science Data Center Users Group and previously member of the SHINE Workshop Steering Committee and working group leader.
Dana W. Longcope—Secretary, Solar and Heliospheric Physics
Interests include solar and space plasma physics, in particular, magnetic reconnection, the generation and emergence of the solar magnetic field, and solar coronal activity. B.S., 1986, applied and engineering physics, Cornell University; Ph.D., 1993, applied physics, Cornell University. Employment history: MSU Bozeman, 1996 to present; Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 1993–1996; Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, 1992–1993. Member of American Astronomical Society (active in Solar Physics Division), American Physical Society Division of Plasma Physics, and AGU (Space Physics and Aeronomy section). Member representative in AURA (representing MSU), member of AURA's Solar Observatory Council, member of the Committee on Solar and Space Physics (NRC; term expiring 2009), member of editorial board for Solar Physics. Author/coauthor of 87 refereed publications, none in AGU journals. Honors: Miller Fellowship for Basic Research in Science, 1993; National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 1997; Presidential Early Career Award for Scientist and Engineers (PECASE, NASA), 2000; Karen Harvey Prize (AAS/SPD), 2003.
Michael J. Wiltberger—Secretary, Magnetospheric Physics
Major interests are modeling and simulation, magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, scientific visualization, and radiation belt dynamics. B.S. (1993) in physics from Clarkson University. M.S (1997) and Ph.D. (1998) in physics from the University of Maryland. Before coming to NCAR in 2003 was a faculty research assistant at the University of Maryland (1998–1999) and a research assistant professor at Dartmouth College (1999–2003). Member of the American Meteorological Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Author or coauthor on 61 publications, 39 in AGU journals. Recipient of an AGU student paper award and a NASA Group Achievement Award. Member of the SPA Executive Committee and the GEM Steering Committee.
Aaron J. Ridley—Secretary, Magnetospheric Physics
Current interests are studying the thermosphere, ionosphere, and magnetosphere using global models and large data sets. B.S. in physics, Eastern Michigan University, 1992. Ph.D. in atmospheric and space sciences, University of Michigan, 1997. Graduate researcher, National Center for Atmospheric Research High Altitude Observatory, 1996–1997. Postdoctoral researcher and research scientist, Southwest Research Institute, 1997–1999. Assistant research scientist/associate professor, University of Michigan, 2000 to present. Author or coauthor of 122 publications (21 are conference proceedings and 75 are in AGU publications). University of Michigan's College of Engineering Outstanding Research Scientist Award, 2004. NASA's Heliophysics Data and Computing Working Group (2003 to present). AGU service as reviewer for AGU journals.