Thomas Zurbuchen

Thomas Hansueli Zurbuchen (born 1968) is a Swiss-American astrophysicist and innovation leader and former senior executive at NASA who played a defining role in shaping modern space science. Born in Heiligenschwendi, Canton of Bern, Switzerland, he is widely known in the industry as "Dr. Z" and celebrated for pioneering innovation practices, leading through complexity, and fostering a bold scientific culture.

Zurbuchen earned his Ph.D. in experimental astrophysics in 1996 from the University of Bern, before moving to the United States to build a distinguished academic and research career. Prior to joining NASA, he was a professor of space science and aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan, where he also founded the Michigan Center for Entrepreneurship—one of the most influential university-based entrepreneurship programs in the United States.

From 2016 to 2022, Zurbuchen served as Associate Administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, becoming the longest-serving head of science in the agency's history. In this role, he oversaw a portfolio of roughly $7–8 billion annually and was responsible for more than 90 missions, including landmark efforts such as the James Webb Space Telescope, the Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter on Mars, the Parker Solar Probe, and the DART planetary defense mission. He received numerous honors, including NASA's Distinguished Service Medal, multiple presidential awards, and several honorary doctorates.

He currently serves as a full professor at ETH Zürich where he leads the ETH Zürich Space initiative. He currently serves as an independent board member for the Schindler Group and McKinley.

Career history

• 2023–present: Professor of Space Sciences and Director, ETH Zürich Space initiative
• 2016–2022: Associate Administrator, NASA Science Mission Directorate
• 2003–2016: Professor of Space Science and Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan
• 1996–2003: Research Associate and Research Scientist, University of Michigan

What Zurbuchen could bring to a commercial aerospace board: His extensive leadership of high-complexity, multi-billion-dollar scientific missions and track record managing rapid innovation in the government space sector position him to guide commercial space companies through regulatory frameworks, international collaborations, and the integration of cutting-edge technology into operational space systems. His founding of a top-ranked entrepreneurship program demonstrates capability in fostering innovation cultures critical for competitive advantage in emerging commercial space markets.