Donald A. Kniffen
Vice President, Science, Universities Space Research Association
Dr. Donald Kniffen is the Vice President of Science for the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), a scientific research and advanced technology company at the forefront of space-related investigations. Dr. Kniffen works out of USRAтАЩs Headquarter Office, located in Columbia, MD. He served over 40 years with NASA before joining USRA.
Dr. KniffenтАЩs primary responsibility is the oversight and support of the four science institutes that comprise USRA: The Lunar Planetary Institute (LPI) and the Division of Space Life Sciences (DSLS) at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, the Earth Systems Science and Astronomy Programs at the National Space Science and Technology Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and the USRA activities at CRESST and GESTAR at the Goddard Space Flioght Center and the USRA activities at Arecibo.
Dr. KniffenтАЩs scientific activities are mostly in the field of high-energy astrophysics. His at NASA initiated the field of high-energy gamma-ray astronomy and was a co-investor on two gamma-ray satellite experiments. He has received several awards for his service at NASA.