Dr. James F. (Jim) Spann, Jr., is the Senior Scientist for Space Weather for NOAA’s NESDIS Office of Space Weather Observations (SWO). Prior to joining NOAA in 2023, he worked at NASA for 37 years during which he served as the Space Weather Lead for the Heliophysics Division at NASA HQ, developed and launched several auroral UV remote sensing instruments, managed the Marshall Space Flight Center’s (MSFC) science research organization, which includes the disciplines of Astrophysics, Planetary Science, Heliophysics and Earth Science, and served as the MSFC Chief Scientist.
A laboratory physicist by training, he earned his BS in mathematics and physics from Ouachita Baptist University (cum laude 1979) and his PhD in physics from the University of Arkansas (1985). He is the author or co-author of more than 70 peer reviewed journal articles primarily in space physics. He was also the Principal Investigator of an international 6U CubeSat mission with the Brazilian space agency, called SPORT, that investigates the conditions in Earth’s ionosphere, just above its upper atmosphere, that lead to disruptions in communication and GPS signals.
Dr. Spann has been actively engaged in defining science that exploration at NASA enables, and was lead for establishing a NASA Space Weather Research Program and coordinating space weather activities for NASA with national and international partners. Furthermore, he coordinated the first Lunar Gateway science payload called HERMES that will study the solar wind and enable better space weather forecasting that enhances astronaut radiation protection for deep space human exploration. In his new role at NOAA, he leads the efforts to ensure that the NOAA space weather observations meet the science and operations goals and continue his active engagement across agencies and internationally to coordinate space weather observations.
Dr. Spann grew up in Recife, Brazil from age five, where his parents served as missionaries for over 33 years. He attended a Brazilian school (Colégio Americano Batista) though elementary, then a small international school (American School of Recife) before returning to the United States for college (Ouachita Baptist University and the University of Arkansas). He has two grown children (Hannah and Ben) and three grandchildren (Lyla, Lincoln, and William). He is an avid soccer fan, enjoys photography, on occasion relaxes with his guitar, and has a strong interest in the overlap of science and faith.