Kevin B. Marvel, a research astronomer who specializes in stellar radio astronomy, has been named executive officer of the American Astronomical Society. He succeeds Robert Milkey, who will retire in July after 11 years of service.
A search committee’s recommendation to select Marvel as head of the society was approved unanimously by the council of the society at a conference-call meeting last December. He will take office on 8 June during the AAS summer meeting in Calgary, Canada.
Marvel, 38, joined the AAS executive office in 1998 as the head of policy programs and subsequently undertook additional responsibility as deputy executive officer and manager of AAS-printed publications. In a recent interview with Physics Today, Marvel said his first priority as executive officer of the society will be to continue to seek, sustain, and increase federal funding for astronomical research. The AAS has a well-coordinated grass-roots coalition that...
