As LASP’s lead scientist, Frank guides LASP’s science priorities and manages the institute’s 135 scientists and extensive portfolio of research programs. Because the external environment in which LASP operates is continually changing, Frank works to recognize these changes and their implications for LASP’s strategic direction so the institute remains competitive. Frank served as LASP’s interim director from January through August 2025, and prior to that worked as a LASP researcher for more than 25 years. He’s an expert in measuring the Sun’s output of light energy and has served as the principal investigator for the four EXIS instruments aboard the NOAA GOES constellation of weather satellites. He earned a Ph.D. from CU Boulder in 1991 and is the author or co-author of more than 125 publications.