Doug McCuistion
Encyclopedia
Doug McCuistion is the Director of the Mars Exploration Program, NASA’s
science-driven program that seeks to understand whether Mars
was, is, or can be a habitable world. As Director, he oversees the major science goals of the program, which include determining if life ever existed on Mars, characterizing the climate and geology of Mars, and preparing for human exploration of Mars.
. At the Goddard Space Flight Center
, he worked on the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite
(TDRS), Geosynchronous Operations Environmental Satellite (GOES), Landsat
, NEXUS (a James Webb Space Telescope
precursor), and as a Deputy Director in the Information Systems engineering division. Prior to his career in space, Mr. McCuistion was commissioned as an Ensign from Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida
and spent 13 years as an F-14 Tomcat RIO. McCuistion also worked on the Navy's Geodetic Satellite (GEOSAT) Follow-On mission. He retired from the Navy at the rank of Commander in 1998. Recently he has written about international collaboration in Mars exploration and education and public outreach efforts in planetary science.
s, two Navy Commendation Medals, and a variety of NASA, Navy, and other agency individual and group achievement awards.
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
science-driven program that seeks to understand whether Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
was, is, or can be a habitable world. As Director, he oversees the major science goals of the program, which include determining if life ever existed on Mars, characterizing the climate and geology of Mars, and preparing for human exploration of Mars.
Career
At NASA Headquarters, McCuistion was the Director of Flight Programs for NASA's Earth Science EnterpriseNASA Earth Science Enterprise
The NASA Earth Science Enterprise , formerly called Mission To Planet Earth , is a NASA research program "to develop a scientific understanding of the Earth system and its response to natural and human-induced changes to enable improved prediction of climate, weather, and natural hazards for...
. At the Goddard Space Flight Center
Goddard Space Flight Center
The Goddard Space Flight Center is a major NASA space research laboratory established on May 1, 1959 as NASA's first space flight center. GSFC employs approximately 10,000 civil servants and contractors, and is located approximately northeast of Washington, D.C. in Greenbelt, Maryland, USA. GSFC,...
, he worked on the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite
Tracking and Data Relay Satellite
A Tracking and Data Relay Satellite is a type of communications satellite that forms part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System used by NASA and other United States government agencies for communications to and from independent "User Platforms" such as satellites, balloons, aircraft,...
(TDRS), Geosynchronous Operations Environmental Satellite (GOES), Landsat
Landsat program
The Landsat program is the longest running enterprise for acquisition of satellite imagery of Earth. On July 26, 1972 the Earth Resources Technology Satellite was launched. This was eventually renamed to Landsat. The most recent, Landsat 7, was launched on April 15, 1999. The instruments on the...
, NEXUS (a James Webb Space Telescope
James Webb Space Telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope , previously known as Next Generation Space Telescope , is a planned next-generation space telescope, optimized for observations in the infrared. The main technical features are a large and very cold 6.5 meter diameter mirror, an observing position far from Earth,...
precursor), and as a Deputy Director in the Information Systems engineering division. Prior to his career in space, Mr. McCuistion was commissioned as an Ensign from Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
and spent 13 years as an F-14 Tomcat RIO. McCuistion also worked on the Navy's Geodetic Satellite (GEOSAT) Follow-On mission. He retired from the Navy at the rank of Commander in 1998. Recently he has written about international collaboration in Mars exploration and education and public outreach efforts in planetary science.
Awards and honors
McCuistion has been recognized with the rank of Meritorious Senior Executive, and was awarded two NASA Exceptional Achievement MedalNASA Exceptional Achievement Medal
The NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal is an award of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration that was established in 1991. The medal is awarded to both civilian members of NASA and military astronauts....
s, two Navy Commendation Medals, and a variety of NASA, Navy, and other agency individual and group achievement awards.