Dr. Richard Fisher, Heliophysics Division Director
Director of the Heliophysics Division, Dr. Fisher has overall responsibility for developing policy and providing guidance for NASA's program of the investigation of the variable Sun, its effect on planets of the solar system (including the Earth) and the structure and evolution of interplanetary space. At the present time the Division has a number of extended missions in operation and is actively developing new flight projects. Recently launched missions for the Division include payloads for the JAXA (Japan) HINODE (Solar-B) mission, the ST-5, STEREO, THEMIS, and AIM missions. The Division also manages the NASA Explorer and Sounding Rocket Programs for the SMD.
Dr. Fisher graduated with honors, Phi Beta Kappa, in Mathematics from Grinnell College in 1961. After receiving his Ph.D. degree in Astrogeophysics from the University of Colorado in 1965, he subsequently held positions on the faculty of the University of Hawaii, and the staff of the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratory and later the National Center for Atmospheric Research where he was a Senior Scientist.
Dr. Fisher joined the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD in 1991, and in 2000 he was designated as the fifth Director of the Laboratory for Astronomy and Solar Physics. He participated in space experimentation via sounding rockets, stratospheric balloons, and a variety of space flight missions both human and robotic. While supervising the Laboratory, he was the Senior Project Scientist for NASA's Living with A Star Project and Co-Investigator for the COR1 instrument for the SECCHI investigation included in the STEREO payload. He moved to NASA HQ in an administrative capacity in 2003.
Dr. Fisher is a life member of the American Geophysical Union, and a member of the International Astronomical Union, the American Astronomical Society, and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He is the recipient of both the NASA Exceptional Achievement and Exceptional Service Medals (two awards). His non-scientific interests range across a variety of activities including swimming, marksmanship, horsemanship, motorcycles and the study of Tai 'Chi Chuan (Yang style). He collects 19th-20th century Japanese woodblock prints from the Ukiyo-e movement.