NOAO Office of Public Affairs and Educational Outreach

Biographical Sketch: Douglas Isbell

SKILLS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Creative manager of a full-service public affairs and educational outreach office, with more than 21 FTEs and a $2.2 million annual budget; proven ability to communicate highly technical information to a wide public audience in a compelling manner; effective and poised spokesperson on television and radio; award-winning writer; experienced with risk communications on public safety issues and crisis management; planned and executed comprehensive media campaigns for topics of worldwide interest, such as the Mars Pathfinder landing.

EDUCATION

M.S., Journalism, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, August 1988, with Honors
B.S., Astronautical Engineering, University of Illinois, U-C, December 1986

EXPERIENCE

Associate Director for Public Affairs & Educational Outreach

National Optical Astronomy Observatory
National Solar Observatory, Tucson, AZ

August 2000—Current

Manage a talented and diverse group responsible for local and national educational programs, the daily operation of the Kitt Peak Visitor Center and its popular public programs (70,000 annual visitors), media activities, Web presence and other special events related to the U.S. national organizations for ground-based nighttime and solar astronomy. As a valued member of the senior staff, led the development of several new marketing publications, related tools, and attractive posters and traveling exhibits. Also serve as the primary U.S. media support person for the Gemini Observatory, helping to establish the credibility of this new dual hemisphere facility with the astronomy press.

Special Assistant for Public Affairs

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD

January 2000—May 2000

Conducted special projects and provided senior staff support for a major science & engineering-related NASA field center. Prepared speeches and related visual material for the Director’s Office, and led preparations for several major Earth Day 2000 events, including an Earth science multimedia show for the public and administration/industry VIPs at the National Air & Space Museum.

Public Affairs Officer

NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC

August 1994—January 2000

Responsible for all media activities related to NASA’s robotic exploration of the Solar System, including spacecraft missions, scientific results, and related budgets and policy. Period of performance was the busiest and most productive era in the history of planetary science. Led the development of a dozen comprehensive public affairs plans that resulted in on-going national and worldwide media coverage on television, print and the Internet. Examples include the historic Mars Pathfinder landing and several other high-profile Mars missions, the Galileo mission to Jupiter and Europa, Lunar Prospector, Stardust, the controversial launch of the Cassini mission to Saturn carrying nuclear power sources, and the globally reported announcement of possible ancient life on Mars. Did double duty for nearly two years of this time as the PAO for the NASA Office of Earth Science, during an extremely challenging period for the enterprise.

Special Assistant for Communications

NASA Headquarters

September 1992—July 1994

Wrote speeches and correspondence for NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin, and served as co-project leader for six highly successful regional NASA Town Meetings across the United States in 1992. Later managed the NASA-wide public mail response and publications program for 15 months, including the generation of more than 600 personal letters, and served as special assistant to the head of NASA Public Affairs.

Reporter

Space News

January 1990—August 1992

Reported and wrote “hard news” stories for this leading space industry trade publication during its initial weekly publication run, a period that created its hard-hitting reputation. Primary beat was NASA, including major agency policy, budgets, and programs such as the International Space Station, the Space Shuttle and launch vehicles, and science missions. Covered several Shuttle launches and conducted extensive visits to NASA field centers. Interacted routinely with senior staff, members of Congress and their staffs, and leading officials in the aerospace industry.

Staff Writer

Washington Technology

October 1988—January 1990

Covered the Washington, DC, region’s developing commercial aerospace industry and related aspects of NASA and Congress for biweekly business technology newspaper. Wrote news stories, large color feature packages and a bylined column.

Awards and Honors

1998 NASA Group Achievement Award—Mars Pathfinder Management and Support Team
1998 NASA Group Achievement Award—Cassini Public Communications
1997 NASA Group Achievement Award—Life on Mars Public Affairs Team
1995 NASA Group Achievement Award—Public Affairs Comet Team
1994 Exceptional Performance Award—Space Station Information Center
1992 NASA Group Achievement Award—Town Meetings Team
1991 Washington Space Business Roundtable Media Award

Professional Activities

Member of the Organizing Committee—“Conference on Communicating Astronomy to the Public,” 1-3 October 2003, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC
Member—National Association of Science Writers

June 2004

Douglas Isbell (pictured above at the SOAR Telescope in Chile) is the Associate Director for Public Affairs & Educational Outreach. He also serves as the Public Information Officer for NOAO and for the Tucson office of the National Solar Observatory.

Photo Credit: Joan Mould

Doug’s Staff Page