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Who's Who at the Chandra X-Ray Center (CXC)

Patrick (Pat) Slane, Director (from 2020 – )
Dr. Patrick (Pat) Slane of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) is the Director of the Chandra X-ray Center (CXC), which controls science and flight operations for NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. Dr. Slane succeeded Dr. Belinda Wilkes, who has served as the CXC Director since 2014, on September 28, 2020. Full Bio

Belinda Wilkes, Former Director (from 2014 – 2020)
Dr. Belinda Wilkes assumed the directorship of the Chandra X-ray Center on April 20, 2014. The CXC is responsible for operating the Chandra X-Ray Observatory in orbit, for supporting the broad community of scientists who observe with Chandra, and for disseminating the Chandra science results to the public. Full Bio

Harvey Tananbaum, Former Director (from 1991 – 2014)
Dr. Tananbaum served as Director of the Chandra X-Ray Center (CXC) at the Smithsonian Astrophsycial Observatory in Cambridge, Mass. from 1991-2014. Full Bio

Roger Brissenden, Manager
Dr. Roger Brissenden has been the Manager of the Chandra X-ray Center since 1993. In 1997 he assumed the additional role of Flight Director or the Chandra mission. He has supervised the development, testing and operation of the Science Center and the Chandra Observatory's Operations Control Center, and as flight director is responsible for the operation of the Chandra mission. Full Bio

Claude Canizares, Associate Director for MIT
Professor Canizares is the Vice President for Research and Associate Provost at MIT and the Bruno Rossi Professor of Physics. He has overall responsibility for research activity and policy at the Institute, overseeing more than a dozen interdisciplinary research laboratories and centers including the MIT Lincoln Laboratory, the Broad Institute, the Plasma Science and Fusion Center, the Research Laboratory of Electronics, the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology, the Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory, Haystack Observatory and the Division of Health Sciences and Technology. Full Bio

Flight Directors

Lead Flight Director & Mission Operations Manager:

Thomas Aldcroft

Deputy Flight Director:

Scott Wolk
Jan Vrtilek

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Chandra Communications and Engagement

Kathleen Lestition, Coordinator

Press

Peter Edmonds, Chandra Press Scientist
Megan Watzke, Public Affairs Specialist

Imaging & Digital

Kimberly Kowal Arcand, Visualization & Emerging Tech Lead
Kristin DiVona, Visualization Information Specialist
April Hobart, Video Specialist
Khajag Mgrdichian, Senior Web Developer
Kayren Phillips, Senior Multimedia Developer
Aldo Solares, Administrative Support
Melissa Weiss, Illustrator
Kelly T.S. Williamson, Social Media/Web Developer
Nancy Wolk, Imaging Specialist

NASA's Universe of Learning

Rutuparna Das, Astrophysicist, SAO
Eric Mandel (programming support, SAO)
Terry Matilsky (Rutgers U.)
Donna Young (AAVSO)

Past contributors

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