LASP names Dr. Pamela Millar its first deputy director for strategic development and communications

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LASP names Dr. Pamela Millar its first deputy director for strategic development and communications

The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) has named Dr. Pamela S. Millar its deputy director for strategic development and communications. This is a new position created to enable growth by strategically identifying, assessing, and implementing ongoing and new space research opportunities to work with federal agencies, international partners, and the commercial space sector.

Millar brings to LASP three decades of experience working at NASA, including five years as the director of the Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) within the Earth Science Division at NASA Headquarters. She has multiple degrees in electrical engineering, including a doctorate from Rice University.

“I am delighted to welcome Pam Millar as the new deputy director for strategic development and communications,” said LASP Director Dan Baker. “Her demonstrated leadership and in-depth knowledge of government and industry will help keep LASP at the forefront of Earth and space science research.”

Prior to serving as the ESTO director, Millar worked as the program manager for three ESTO programs: In-Space Validation of Earth Science Technologies (InVEST), Sustainable Land Imaging–Technology (SLI-T), and Airborne Instrument Technology Transition (AITT). Millar also spent a decade at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center as head of the Laser Remote Sensing Laboratory. There she led a group of instrument scientists who conducted research on the development of remote-sensing instruments for laser ranging, altimetry, and atmospheric Earth and planetary science applications.

Through this work, Millar has obtained a thorough understanding of emerging technologies and opportunities presented by the expanding capabilities and investments made by universities, government agencies, the commercial sector, and international collaborators. Her knowledge and extensive network will help shape LASP’s business development, communications, and strategic planning efforts.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be joining one of the most distinguished academic institutions in space research and exploration, whose incredibly talented people strive for excellence in a truly supportive and collaborative environment,” said Millar. “It’s a great honor and a privilege to be the first to serve in this position at LASP.”

Millar is well known within the space-research community for serving on Goddard’s Women’s Advisory Committee for seven years. In this capacity, she coordinated women’s history and women’s equality events and speakers and most notably co-chaired the 2009 Women in Astronomy and Space Science Conference. She has fostered a community of women scientists through workshops and mentoring throughout her career.

“As LASP approaches its 75th anniversary, Pam’s extensive experience will be vital in helping us create a shared vision that sustains the excellence for which LASP is so well known,” said Baker. “She is widely respected within the space exploration community, and we are very fortunate that she will be joining our institute.”
 
Millar received her PhD from Rice University’s Quantum Electronics group in 1990. Prior to earning her doctorate, she earned an MS in Electrical Engineering from Rice University and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University. She has authored more than 35 publications and presentations and regularly co-chairs conference sessions on SmallSats for science. Millar is also the recipient of numerous awards, including two NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Director’s Awards and the agency’s Exceptional Achievement Award for Diversity & Equal Employment Opportunity.

“I look forward to engaging the LASP community in strategic activities that ensure LASP’s growth of transformational scientific discovery for the next 25 years and beyond,” said Millar.

LASP is a research institute at the University of Colorado Boulder that is on a mission to transform human understanding of the cosmos by pioneering new technologies and approaches to space science. Founded a decade before NASA, LASP is the only academic research institute in the world to have sent instruments to every planet in our solar system.

Written by Willow Reed, LASP Communications Specialist

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