Eileen Stansbery

Dr. Eileen K. Stansbery is the Chief Scientist at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) and Chief of the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Division where she is responsible for a multi-disciplinary organization to support NASA's Planetary Science, Human Exploration, and Space Science Enterprises. The organization’s primary functions include stewardship of all NASA-held extraterrestrial samples, astromaterial research, and conducting the agency Orbital Debris program. As JSC Chief Scientist, she provides scientific advice and assessments to Center and Agency leadership directed toward the development of world-class scientific research as well as human and robotic mission capabilities for exploration (primarily the Moon, Mars, and planetary small bodies).

Eileen briefly served as the NASA Acting Deputy Chief Scientist, supporting internal agency senior leadership as well as external activities of the Office of Chief Scientist with the Executive Office of the President’s Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the National Academies. She provided policy and subject matter expertise in support to NASA Policy Directive (NPD) and NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) development for Scientific Collections and Planetary Protection. She played a major role in the Genesis Mission (solar wind sample return). Her expertise in contamination control, collector material installation, ultra-precision cleaning techniques, and curation planning for the samples was critical to the successful recovery of science after the sample return capsule crashed in 2004.

Eileen earned her doctorate in Space Physics from Rice University and her BS in mathematics and physics from Houston Baptist University. In addition to many internal NASA honors including the Outstanding Leadership, Exceptional Service, and Equal Employment Opportunity Medals, Eileen was honored with the 2013 AAS Carl Sagan Memorial Award.