Marcia S. Smith

Marcia S. Smith is President of the Space and Technology Policy Group, LLC in Arlington, VA, which specializes in policy analysis of civil, military and commercial space programs, and other technology areas. She is also the founder and editor of the website SpacePolicyOnline.com. From March 2006-March 2009, Ms. Smith was Director of the Space Studies Board (SSB) at the National Research Council (NRC), and from January 2007-March 2009 additionally was Director of the NRC’s Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board (ASEB). The NRC is the operating arm of The National Academies, comprised of the NRC, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The National Academies is a non-profit organization that provides advice to the nation on science, engineering and medicine. Previously, Ms. Smith was a senior level specialist in aerospace and telecommunications policy at the Congressional Research Service (CRS), Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. CRS provides objective, non-partisan research and analysis exclusively for the Members and committees of the U.S. Congress. Ms. Smith specialized in U.S. and foreign military and civilian space activities, as well as telecommunications issues (including the Internet). She worked at CRS from 1975-2006, except for a one year leave of absence from 1985-1986 while she served as Executive Director of the U.S. National Commission on Space. The Commission, created by Congress and its members appointed by the President, developed long term (50 year) goals for the civilian space program under the chairmanship of (the late) former NASA Administrator Thomas Paine. The Commission published its results in the report Pioneering the Space Frontier (Bantam Books). Before joining CRS, she worked in the Washington Office of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (then headquartered in New York). A graduate of Syracuse University, Ms. Smith is the author or co-author of more than 220 reports and articles on space, nuclear energy, and telecommunications and Internet issues. Ms. Smith is theNorth American Editor for the quarterly journal Space Policy, Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Currently member of AIAA’s International Activities Committee and has served on many other AIAA committees, was an AIAA Distinguished Lecturer (1983-1988), and a member of the AIAA National Capital Section Council (1994-1996), Fellow, Past President, and former member of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee of the American Astronautical Society (AAS). Co-chair of the AAS Fellows Committee (2004). Awarded the AAS “John F. Kennedy Astronautics Award” in 2006. Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society. Founder, Emeritus Member, and Past President of Women in Aerospace (WIA). Awarded the WIA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. Member, former Vice President, and former member of the Board of Directors of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL). Member and former Trustee of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). Co-chair of IAA’s Space Activities and Society Committee (1991-1997). Member of the Advisory Committee for the Secure World Foundation. Life Member of the New York Academy of Sciences, the Washington Academy of Sciences (Board of Directors, 1988-1989), and Sigma Xi (the honorary scientific research society).