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The US Gemini Project Office (1Jun93)
(from the Director's Office, NOAO Newsletter No. 34, 1 June 1993)

At its meeting on 16 April, the AURA Board affirmed the importance of the US
Gemini Project Office in NOAO by passing the following resolution:

"Resolved, that the AURA Board of Directors urges AURA to establish a US Gemini
Office as a separate office within the National Optical Astronomy Observatories
(NOAO) on a status that is on par with Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO),
Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), and the National Solar
Observatory (NSO)."

AURA also provided guidance to NOAO on the functioning of the US Gemini Project
Office in this context:

"NOAO's US Gemini Office is the focus for US involvement in the international
Gemini project ("Gemini"). Specifically, the office shall:

1.  advocate and represent US interests in Gemini;

2.  inform the US astronomy community about Gemini;

3.  provide the US Gemini Project Scientist to represent the US as member of
    the Gemini Science Committee;

4.  coordinate US-funded effort in support of Gemini objectives;

5.  support Gemini, as appropriate, in Gemini-funded work in the US;

6.  propose a plan for the US role in Gemini operations including

    o how the US community will gain access to Gemini telescope time, and

    o roles and responsibilities of Gemini and NOAO in Gemini South;

7.  accept US roles in time allocation and Gemini operations;

8.  carry out other tasks that support the interests of the US astronomy
    community in Gemini.

The office reports to NOAO as a division on the same level as the observatories
such as CTIO and NSO. The AURA Board maintains oversight through the
Observatories Advisory Committee. The Observatories Visiting Committee will
periodically review the performance of the office."

The head of this division of NOAO is the US Gemini Project Scientist, currently
Fred Gillett in acting capacity. As mentioned elsewhere in this Newsletter, Jay
Gallagher is working with the office as Associate US Gemini Project Scientist.
Larry Daggert serves as US Gemini Project Manager.  Peggy Wiggins coordinates
administrative support. If you wish to communicate about the Gemini Project
to the US Project Office, the e-mail address is usgpo@noao.edu.

The immediate goals of the US Gemini Project Office are to expand two-way
communication with US astronomers, to maintain active involvement with the
Gemini Project in providing scientific oversight, and to facilitate US
participation in defining and building the focal plane instruments for the
telescopes. As always, we would appreciate your advice on the best way to
accomplish those goals.

Richard F. Green

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