Resume of:
Daniel Shields Spicer
Education
1969-1976 University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, Degree: Doctor of Philosophy in Physics
Professional Experience
2005-present Senoir Scientist, Laboratory for Solar and Space Physics, NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, MD
Accomplishments: At present writing papers on CMEs, completing a new coupled magnetospheric and ionosphere numerical code, and writing papers
1993-1/2005 Chief Scientist, Earth and Space Data Computing Division, NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, MD
Accomplishments:
· Technical
1. Developed the first two dimensional and three-dimensional adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) codes in existence.
2. Modeled the global magnetospheric system including a coupled ionosphere and plasma sphere in support of Space Weather Research.
3. Developed a new class of high order Godunov/TVD codes utilizing characteristic boundary conditions for both computational fluid dynamics and MHD.
4. Using MHD/AMR code studying magnetized DT fuel targets for use with impact fusion.
· Managerial
1. Managed the research program of the computational physics group within the Division in support of the HPC&C Program.
2. Designed and implemented the entire project plan that led to the set of numerical codes mentioned above.
3. Provided individual guidance and mentoring to all personnel to aid in their professional development.
4. Leading at Goddard the joint NASA/LBNL parallel framework program/
1989-1993 Associate Chief, NASA Center for Computational Sciences, NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, MD Accomplishments:
· Technical
1. Planned and implemented the transition of a major proprietary based IBM mainframe computing facility, utilized by the entire distributed NASA space and Earth science community (1500 users), to a state-of-the-art user-friendly open system computer facility. This facility included a Cray C90, two massively parallel processors, a 20 Terabyte mass storage and archiving system utilizing Unitree, an integrated scientific visualization facility, and a Goddard Space Flight Center wide Gigabit/s Ultranet network.
2. Helped plan and implement NASA’s Earth and Space Science High Performance Computing and Communication Program at GSFC.
3. Initiated, developed the curriculum, and managed the NASA Summer School on High Performance Computational Physics.
4. Set up a computational physics group.
· Managerial/Administrative
1. Managed 52 government employees at the senior level including setting their yearly performance objectives. Defined tasks and evaluated the performance of 60 contract personnel.
2. Provided individual guidance and mentoring to all personnel to aid in their professional development.
3. Selected and approved all new equipment for purchase and approved their requisite budgetary plans.
4. Selected service contracts and authorized their scope.
5. Managed a $25M/year budget and its disbursement.
6. Selected all new hires and selected all candidates for promotion
1985-1991 Project/Program Scientist, Orbiting Solar Laboratory', NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, MD
Accomplishments:
· Technical
1. Lead the planning and development of OSL’s internationally distributed data processing and analysis facilities in support of OSL’s 100 Mb/s downlink data rate (this system was later adopted by the Earth Observing System Program and is now referred to as EOSDIS).
2. Chaired the Orbiting Solar Laboratory (OSL) Science Working Group.
3. Insured that the programmatic and scientific objectives of the mission were met.
4. Represented the scientific goals of the mission to the NASA Administrator and the Associate Administrator for the Office of Space Science and Applications.
· Managerial/Administrative
1. Helped plan the $950M OSL budget.
2. Successfully negotiated memoranda of understanding with International Partners (FRG and Italy to provide specialized scientific instruments for the OSL mission.
3. Lobbied for Congressional Approval.
1985-1993 Consultant, GT-Devices, Alexandria, VA
Accomplishments:
· Developed hydrodynamic numerical codes used in the modeling of electrothermal and electromagnetic mass launchers.
1984-1985 Program Scientist, Spacelab II, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC
Accomplishments:
· Chief Scientist of Spacelab II shuttle mission.
· Managed the entire scientific instrument/experiment payload (16 instruments). Ensured that the programmatic and scientific objectives of the mission were met.
· Represented the scientific goals of the mission to the NASA Administrator and Associate Administrator for the Office of Space Science and Applications.
· Represented the scientific goals and successes to the press for the Agency.
· Negotiated with International Partners involved in the mission.
· Managed the supporting Research and Technology Grants Program; managed Sub-orbital rocket and Spartan Experiments Program; managed Solar Maximum Mission Guest Investigator Program; and managed the reviews of both solicited and unsolicited proposals.
Accomplishments:
1982-1984 Senior Research Physicist, Plasma Physics Division, U. S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375
Accomplishments:
· Technical
1. Developed a variety of numerical codes including multi-fluid and hybrid codes that included anomalous transport effects.
2. Independent research in Solar-Terrestrial Physics including MHD shock theory, electron beam - return current dynamics in a magnetized plasma, and particle acceleration by kinetic Alfven waves.
· Managerial
1. Supervised the Defense Nuclear Agency's High Altitude Nuclear Explosion (HANE) theoretical and numerical modeling program and doubling its budget within two years..
2. Formulated and carried out, with the aid of junior research physicists, a variety of theoretical projects concerned with HANE research.
3. Supervised research activities of both junior and senior research physicists.
1981-1982 Visiting Professor, Institut für Astronomie, ETH-Zentrum, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
Accomplishments:
· Lecturer in plasma physics for two semesters at the graduate level.
· Pursued theoretical studies primarily aimed at understanding solar transient phenomena.
· Directed the PhD thesis research of two graduate students.
1978-1981 Branch Consultant, E. O. Hulbert Center for Space Research, U. S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375
Accomplishments:
· Performed independent research in Solar-Terrestrial Physics.
· Acted as a theoretical consultant to the Solar Physics and Solar Terrestrial Physics Branches at NRL.
· Advised Branch Heads on new developments in Solar-Terrestrial Research.
· Collaborated with experimentalists and data analysts in order to clarify their experimental results.
1976-1979 Visiting Professor, Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
Accomplishments:
· Lectured on phenomena in plasma astrophysics.
· Directed the Ph.D. thesis research of two graduate students.
· Carried out research in the areas of inertial confinement of high temperature plasmas and light and heavy ion beam fusion. These studies were principally associated with beam transport theory.
· Carried out research in Solar-Terrestrial Physics.
1978-1982 Consultant, Jaycor Corporation, 205 South Whiting Street, Alexandria, VA 22304
Accomplishments:
· Developed models of optical targeting and tracking systems for use of directed energy systems.
· Developed models of relativistic electron beam transport; relativistic ion beam transport; and electromagnetic mass accelerators.
· Developed models of laser-plasma isotope separation techniques.
1977-1978 Consultant, La Jolla Institute, La Jolla, California
Accomplishments:
· Developed detailed theoretical models of directed energy transport.
1969-1978 Space Scientist (part time) E.O. Hulbert Center for Space Research, U. S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375
Accomplishments:
· Participated in Design of Optical Instruments used on the Skylab/ATM missions.
· Developed ray-tracing program for modeling Skylab Calibration Rocket Instruments.
· Developed code to calibrate OSO-7 NRL Coronagraph
Professional Affiliations
American Physical Society
American Geophysical Union
Fellow Royal Astronomical Society
International Astronomical Union
COSPAR