W.M. Keck Observatory is very pleased to announce John O’Meara’s appointment as chief scientist effective Dec. 3.
“We are very pleased to welcome John as the chief scientist of Keck Observatory,” said W.M. Keck Observatory Director Hilton Lewis. “In this role, he will be responsible for the stewardship of the observatory’s scientific programs and for ensuring the well-being and vibrancy of the science conducted at our observatory.”
O’Meara comes to Keck from St. Michael’s College in Vermont, where he was most recently a professor and chairman of the physics department. He brings more than two decades of ground- and space-based observational experience as a research astrophysicist. O’Meara is a long-time Keck observer, and this year he is celebrating his 20th anniversary of observing at the observatory.
“I am proud and honored to be part of the Keck astronomer family,” he said. “I’m delighted to take on this new role and to work with the entire Keck community to ensure the observatory’s leadership of ground-based astronomy for the next decade and beyond.”
As chief scientist, O’Meara will serve as a key adviser to the observatory director on all matters of science policy and strategy. He has extensive experience in this arena through his role as the Cosmic Origins science team lead for the Large UV/Optical/IR Surveyor (LUVOIR) mission concept, a multi-wavelength space observatory concept for NASA. In this capacity, O’Meara leads the team in developing many aspects of the science justification for LUVOIR.
A proven leader in the national astronomy community, O’Meara has a deep interest in ensuring the health and success of the field. He serves as chairman of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee, which reports to Congress about astronomy and astrophysics issues that are of mutual interest to the National Science Foundation, NASA and the Department of Energy Office of Science.
O’Meara is an expert in investigating the early universe just moments after the Big Bang and has published more than 75 papers about distant quasars, Big Bang nucleosynthesis, the intergalactic medium, galaxy formation and evolution and more.
O’Meara obtained his PhD at the University of California, San Diego and did his postdoctoral work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“I am excited to bring John on board,” Lewis said. “He brings a clear scientific vision with a broad external perspective, proven collaborative ability and a strong intellect to the observatory. I believe he will perform admirably as our chief scientist.”
For more information about the Keck Observatory, visit www.keckobservatory.org.