Dr. Edward J. Weiler Retires After Almost 33 Years of NASA Service
29 Sep 2011
(Source: NASA)
We wish Dr. Ed Weiler all the best as he enters into retirement and want to thank him for all his hard work and diligent leadership as the associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) at NASA Headquarters, and for his many years of great service to NASA.
Ever since Dr. Edward J. Weiler was a young eight-year-old boy he has pondered the fascinating question of "Are we alone?" In almost 33 years of service, Weiler has worked to help uncover answers to that universal question though his work for NASA.
Weiler joined NASA Headquarters in 1978 as a staff scientist and later was promoted to the chief of the Ultraviolet/Visible and Gravitational Astrophysics Division in 1979. Also in 1979, Weiler became the chief scientist for the Hubble Space Telescope, a position he held until 1998. Weiler was chief scientist of the Hubble program during the correction of the telescope's technical problems. Hubble had been considered unsuccessful due to a fuzzy halo that was distorting the images. With adjustments to the telescope in 1993, Hubble revealed to the public unprecedented clear images of the planets, distant galaxies, nebulae and so much more. In his role as the Hubble Space Telescope chief scientist, Weiler also acted as the prime scientific spokesperson for the program and appeared on a number of national television programs including "Nightline," "Today," "Good Morning America," and "60 Minutes," to name a few.
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Prior to becoming the associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate in 2008, Weiler was the center director of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (2004 - 2008). Weiler also served as the associate administrator for NASA's Space Science Enterprise (1998 - 2004), which under his leadership had numerous successes, including the Chandra Observatory, NEAR, WMAP, FUSE, Spitzer, Mars Odyssey, and the Mars Exploration Rover missions.
The successes realized under Weiler's leadership have earned consistent support from the Administration and Congress and have secured an unprecedented level of funding to continue such important space science missions.
And Weiler's successes have not gone by unnoticed either. For Weiler's lead role in the Hubble science program he was awarded the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal and the1994 Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive. Other awards include the NASA Exceptional Service Medal (1991), two additional NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals (2002, 2004), the NASA Distinguished Service Medal (2000), a second Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive (2002), and the prestigious Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive (1999).
"Ed leaves an enduring legacy of pride and success that forever will remain a part of NASA's science history. His leadership helped inspire the public with each new scientific discovery, and enabled NASA to move forward with new capabilities to continue to explore our solar system and beyond," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.
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