New JPL Center Director Announced
Michael Watkins Named Next JPL Director
“Michael M. Watkins, the Clare Cockrell Williams Centennial Chair in Aerospace Engineering and Director of the Center for Space Research at The University of Texas at Austin, has been appointed director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and vice president at Caltech, the Institute announced today. Watkins will formally assume his position on July 1, 2016. He succeeds Charles Elachi, who will retire as of June 30, 2016, and move to the Caltech faculty.”
NASA Welcomes New Director for its Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Really smart guy and very practical. Good choice Caltech!
In the Caltech press release it states Watkins began his position at UT Austin in 2015. I can’t imagine the people at UT Austin are very happy about him leaving so soon after starting the job.
Elachi announced his retirement in late August 2015. Given the vetting process for a director level position, one wonders how long Watkins was at UT before applying for the director position.
Do you apply for such a position or are candidates of interest contacted by the search committee?
There has to be some formal application process, although candidates at that level can be contacted and invited to submit an application.
Watkins does seem to be an excellent choice, and I wish him well. UT Austin was his alma mater, so he got to return to his old stomping ground briefly. I’m guessing UT has mixed feelings. Happy that one of their own has landed such a prestigious position, and disappointed to be loosing such an experienced professional so soon after being hired. Stuff like that happens, I guess.