News by Council/Committee
news
March 18, 2008
Today, AURA announced the selection of Dr. David Silva to lead the National Optical Astronomy Observatory. AURA will submit Dr. Silva's name to the National Science Foundation for final approval as NOAO Director, and a key person in AURA's cooperative agreement with the NSF. AURA began it's search for the NOAO Directorship in June 2007. AURA received a number of applications from highly qualified candidates and conducted in-depth discussions to narrow the selection to Dr. Silva.
Dr. Silva received his PhD from the University of Michigan in 1991 and is presently acting as Observatory Scientist with the Thirty Meter Telescope project based in Pasadena, California. He has also served as an AURA Senior Scientist at NOAO and has worked in several capacities for the European Southern Observatory. Dr. Silva succeeds Todd Boroson who has served ably as interim Director since April 2007.
In making this announcement, Dr. William Smith, President of AURA said "Dave has more than 15 years of service at publicly funded, open access observatories. His strategic leadership and management experience will be a great asset to AURA in general and will move NOAO into an exciting future." Dr. Michael Shull, Chairman of the AURA Board, said "The AURA Board and Observatories Council are immensely grateful to Todd Boroson for steering NOAO on a steady course, and we look forward to David Silva's experience and energy in taking the US Observatories into new ventures next decade."
It is anticipated that Dr. Silva will begin his term on July 7.
