Scolese receives SUNY honorary degree

UB President Trapathi with Christopher Scolese.

UB President Satish Tripathi and Christopher Scolese at the 2015 SEAS Commencement, where Scolese received a SUNY honorary degree. Photo credit: The Onion Studio.

Published August 10, 2015 This content is archived.

Christopher Scolese (BS ’78), director 
of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
 and a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), received an honorary doctorate of science from the State University of New York.

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The honor recognizes his significant and enduring contributions to space systems engineering and, more broadly, space exploration.

Scolese, a Buffalo native, joined NASA in 1987 and has served in numerous leadership roles, including manager of the Earth Orbiting Satellite Program, deputy director of flight programs and projects for earth science, and project manager of the Earth Observing System Terra Satellite Mission. Appointed acting administrator of NASA in 2009, Scolese earned the agency’s highest honor—the Distinguished Service Medal—for his leadership in this role.

Scolese has remained meaningfully engaged with his alma mater, lecturing at UB and mentoring students.