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Physicist
  • BA, Physics, Mathematics, Religion
    1982, Augsburg College
  • PhD, Physics
    1987, University of Minnesota

Dr. Anderson has over 30 years experience in space magnetometry and basic research in space plasma physics and planetary magnetic fields. Space flight experience includes AMPTE/CCE, UARS, NEAR, MESSENGER, and MMS with magnetometer instrument scientist responsibilities for NEAR and MESSENGER,and spacecraft magnetics control and mitigation for UARS, NEAR, MESSENGER, and MMS. Dr. Anderson served as Deputy Project Scientist for NASA's MESSENGER mission to Mercury. Basic research includes work on plasma waves, Birkeland currents and magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, and magnetic fields of Mercury and Earth. Dr. Anderson pioneered the application of platform Iridium Constellation magnetometer data for rapid cadence measurement of Earth's Birkeland currents leading to the NSF Geospace Facility, Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Response Experiment (AMPERE) for which Dr. Anderson is the Principal Investigator.

Notable Awards and Leadership

Year(s) Description
2016 NASA RHG Exceptional Achievement for Engineering Group Achievement Award to MMS Smart Instrument Suite Team for MMS SMART Instrument Suite development
2013 The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Outstanding Research Paper in an Externally Refereed Journal Publication
2012 International Academy of Astronautics Laurels for Team Achievement for MESSENGER
2010 - 2012 National Academy of Sciences Steering Committee for Heliophysics
2008 Group Achievement Award to MESSENGER Mission Team for Development and Operation of MESSENGER
2007 Editor's Citation for Excellence in Refereeing, Space Weather
1999 - 2007 Chair, Division III, IAGA
2006 Group Achievement Award for UARS Missions Operations, NASA
2004 Distinguished Alumnus Award, Augsburg College
2001 - 2004 Editor, Geophysical Research Letters, Space Physics and Aeronomy
2000 The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Award for Outstanding Development Paper in a Refereed Publication
1997 The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Honorable Mention Award for Outstanding Paper in a Refereed Publication
1995 Editor's Citation for Excellence in Refereeing, Geophysical Research Letters
1993 The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Award for Outstanding Paper in a Refereed Publication
1990 Group Achievement Award for AMPTE Missions Operations, NASA
1990 Editor's Citation for Excellence in Refereeing, Journal of Geophysical Research
1985-1986 Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, Graduate School of the University of Minnesota
1982 Graduation Summa Cum Laude, Augsburg College