Thomas Greene
Astrophysicist, Space Science and Astrobiology Division/Astrophysics Branch
Email: Tom.Greene@nasa.gov
Bio
Thomas Greene is an Astrophysicist in the Space Science and Astrobiology Division at NASA’s Ames Research Center. His research interests include observational studies of young stars and exoplanets as well as developing astronomical observatories and instrumentation. Greene was a co-investigator on the JWST NIRCam and MIRI JWST instruments and is now leading the MANATEE guaranteed time observing program to characterize exoplanets with those instruments. While at NASA Ames he has served as the Director of the Ames Center for Exoplanet Studies, Project Scientist of the SOFIA mission, and Chief of the Astrophysics Branch. Before joining NASA, he was a staff scientist at the Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center, on the faculty of the University of Hawaii, and on the staff of the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility. Greene received a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Arizona.
Education
Ph.D. Astronomy 1991, University of Arizona
BA Physics 1982, University of California Santa Cruz
Experience
1998 – present: Astrophysicist; Director, Ames Center for Exoplanet Studies (2008 – 2021); and Chief, Astrophysics Branch (1998–2001), NASA Ames Research Center
2004 (6 mo): Visiting Program Scientist, Astronomy & Physics Division, NASA HQ
1997 – 1998: Research Scientist, Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center, Palo Alto
1996 – 1997: NASA IRTF Director and Associate Astronomer, University of Hawaii
1992 – 1996: NASA IRTF staff and Deputy Director and Assistant Astronomer, University of Hawaii, Honolulu
1991 – 1992: National Research Council Postdoctoral Associate, Space Science Division, NASA Ames Research Center
1983 – 1985: Research Engineer and Software Engineer, Nanometrics Inc., Sunnyvale, CA
Professional Activities and Positions
NASEM Committee on Astronomy and Astrophysics, 2014 – 2022, co-chair 2019 – 2022
Keck Observatory Science Steering Committee, 2005 – 2010 & 2015 – 2022
Chair and co-founder of the quarterly Bay Area Exoplanet Meetings, 2012 – 2021
NASA Keck Observatory and Spitzer TACs: member, panel chair, chair roles, 2004 – 2016
NASA Exoplanet Program Analysis Group executive committee, 2010 – 2014
NASEM Astro2010 Decadal Survey Space (EOS) Program Prioritization Panel, 2009 – 2010
NASA Astrophysics Subcommittee and Origins Subcommittee, 2004 – 2008
Research Interests
Observational studies of exoplanets and protostars, ground and space observatories and instrumentation, scientific strategic planning and policy, mentoring young scientists.
Recent Awards/Honors
NASA Exceptional Service Medal, 2024
NASA Ames Honor Award for Scientific Excellence, 2023
NASA Ames Associate Fellow, 2020
Curriculum Vitae
Scientific Publications
Visit this link for a complete list of publications.
NASA Missions
NGST (nee JWST) Ad-hoc Science Working Group, 1998 – 2000
NASA SOFIA Project Scientist, 2001 – 2005
NASA WFIRST-AFTA (nee Roman) Science Definition Team, 2012 – 2015
James Webb Space Telescope Mid-Infrared Science Team
James Webb Space Telescope NIRCam co-investigator
James Webb Space Telescope Users Committee, 2017 – 2023
Pandora Astrophysics Pioneers smallsat Co-Investigator, 2021 – present
Habitable Worlds Observatory Technical Assessment Group, 2023 – present