Ronald Greeley is a Regents' Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at Arizona State University and Director of the NASA Regional Planetary Image Facility and Interim Director of the ASU School of Earth and Space Exploration. He has been involved in lunar and planetary studies since 1967. Current research is focused on understanding planetary surface processes and geological histories. The approach involves a combination of spacecraft data analysis, laboratory experiments, and geological field studies on Earth of features analogous to those observed on the planets.

After receiving his Ph.D. in Geology in 1966, Greeley worked for Standard Oil Company of California. Through military duty, he was assigned to NASA's Ames Research Center in 1967 where he worked in a civilian capacity in preparation for the Apollo missions to the Moon. Subsequently, he remained at NASA to conduct research in planetary geology. With the results from planetary missions in the early 1970s, attention shifted to Mars and research on volcanism and aeolian processes through the analysis of Mariner 6, 7, and 9 data. Results from this work were applied as a science team member on the Mars Viking Mission, 1976-80.

In 1977, Greeley joined the faculty at Arizona State University with a joint professorship in Geology and the Center for Meteorite Studies. Current projects include study of wind processes on Earth, Mars, and Venus, field studies of basaltic volcanism, and photogeological mapping of planets and satellites. Planetary mission involvement includes science team membership on the Galileo Jupiter mission, Mars Exploration Rovers, and the European Space Agency Mars Express mission. Greeley has served on various NASA and National Academy of Science panels to assess space science and planetary geology activities. He has chaired the NASA Planetary Cartography Working Group, the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Lunar and Planetary Exploration, and the NASA Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group; he currently chairs the NASA Astobiology Institute Europa Focus Group. He is author or co-author of 14 books and more than 240 papers.

Positions held:

Education:

Membership in Professional Societies:

Geological Society of America, Fellow
American Geophysical Union
Meteoritical Society
National Speleologic Society

Awards and Honors:

NASA Software of the Year Award, Autonomous Sciencecraft Analysis (2005)
Distinguished Faculty Award, Arizona State University (2004)
Distinguished Alumni Award, Mississippi State University (2004)
NASA Group Achievement Award, Mars Planning (2001); ASE (2005)
Honorary Lifetime member, National Speleologic Society (2000)
Distinguished Visiting Scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (1999-present)
Best Geoscience Reference (NASA Atlas), Geoscience Information Society (GSA) (1998)
Ida and Cecil Green Honors Professor, Texas Christian University (1998)
G. K. Gilbert Award, Geological Society of America (1997)
Regents' Professorship, Arizona State University (1994)
NASA Award Magellan Science Group (1993)
NASA Group Achievement Awards, Galileo imaging system (1991; 1992)
Award: Outstanding Mentor of Graduate Students, Graduate College, Arizona State University (1988)
Overseas Fellow, Churchill College, Cambridge University (1984)
Graduate College Distinguished Research Award, Ariz. State Univ. (1981-1982)
NASA Award Public Service Medal, Viking Mission to Mars (1977) landing site analysis

Professional Society Service:

Member, International Planetary Rovers Symposium, Science Program Steering Committee, Toulouse, France (1991-1992); Santa Monica (1997)
Member, American Geophysical Union, Committee on Public Affairs (1989-1994)
Member, Program Committee, Division of Planetary Science (Amer. Ast. Soc.; 1985, 1992)
Chairman, Geological Society of America, Planetary Geology Division (1989-1990)
Member, The Planetary Society, Advisory Board for Mars (1982-1985)
Organizing Committee - Third International Colloquium on Mars (1981)

Science Consultant:

Member, Director's Science Council, NASA Astrobiology Institute, Ames Research Center (1999-2003)
Member, Steering Committee, Solar System Exploration Strategic Survey, National Academy of Sciences (co-chair of Inner Planets Panel) (2001-2002)
Member, Mars Task Group, NASA Headquarters (2001)
Consultant, Global Aerospace (2002)
Consultant, CH2M Hill Engineers (2002)
Consultant, Mars Sample Return, SpaceDev (Boeing) (2001)
Chairman, Committee on Planetary and Lunar Exploration, National Academy of Sciences (1995-1998) (member, 1981-1985)
Member, Space Studies Board, National Academy of Sciences (1995-1998)
Member, Lunar and Planetary Institute Science Council (1981-1984; 1991-1995)
Member, Review Board, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Image Processing Facility (1984-1987; 1992-1994)
Consultant, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (1986-1988)
Member National Academy of Sciences Study Panel, Space Sciences in the Period 1995-2015 (1984-1986)
Consultant, UNESCO, Physics of Desertification (Trieste 1979), (Khartoum 1984)
Consultant, Impact Cratering proposal, Royal Society, London (1980)
Consultant, French space science review (CNR) (1978)
Expert Witness (law firms), litigation dealing with geological and aeolian processes (continuing)

Editorial Service:

Associate Editor, Icarus (1984-2001)
Associate Editor, Planetary Science Series, Cambridge University Press (1980-2000)
Associate Editor, Astronomy Express, Univ. of Cambridge Press (1984-1985)
Special Editor, 3rd Mars Colloquim Issue, Journal of Geophysical Research (1982)
Associate Editor, Journal of Geophysical Research (1978-1982) 

Convenor/Organizer of Service Functions:

Chair, NASA-Astrobiology Institute, Europa Focus Group (2001-present)
Co-chair, Workshop on Human Exploration of Mars (NASA Goddard, 2001)
Convenor, NASA , Geol. Soc. Amer., and NSF Short Courses in Planetology (1974, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1985, 1996)
Organizer, Dust on Mars workshop (1991)
Organizer and host NASA workshop on "Future of Planetary Geology" (1988)
Member, Organizing committee, LPI workshop "Mars Sample Return" (1988)
Convenor, NASA Panel for Space Science Microgravity Experiments (1983-1986)
Organizer, Io Volcanism Workshop, Kona (1984)
Organizer, NASA Field Conference on Aeolian Processes (1978)
Co-organizer, NASA Field Conference on Volcanism in the Snake River Plain (1977)
Organizer, NASA Field Conference on Hawaiian volcanism (1974)

NASA Committees:

Chairman, NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Management Operations Work Group (2003-present)
European Sub-group Chair, NASA Outer Planets Analysis Group (2004-present)
Member, NASA Mars Exploration Review Team (2002-2004)
Founding Chairman, NASA Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (1999-2002)
Co-chair, Science Definition Team, Mars '05 Orbiter (2000-2001)
Chairman, NASA Office of Space Sciences - Minority University Program review panel (2000)
Chairman, NASA Lunar Prospector Data Analysis review panel (1999)
Chairman, NASA Regional Planetary Image Facility, Board of Directors (1998-2000)
Chairman, NASA Jupiter Satellite Data Analysis review panel (1998)
Member, Mars Architecture Review Board (1998-1999)
Member, NASA-ESA Joint Science Working Group, InterMarsNet (1994-1996)
Member, Solar System Road Map development team-(1995-1996)
Member, NASA Mars Science Working Group (mission planning) (1976-1979), (1989-1995)
Member, Advanced Mission Planning: Mars Landing Sites (1978-1995)
Chairman, NASA Clementine Review Panel (1993)
Member, NASA Science Definition Team, Mars MESUR mission (1991-1993)
Chairman, NASA Science Steering Committee, Mars Geological Mapping Program (1986-1992)
Member, NASA Planetary Geology Development Program (1987-1992)
Project Director, NASA Solar System Atlas (1987-1992)
Member, NASA Science Steering Committee, Geology Remote Sensing Field Experiment (1987-1991)
Member, NASA Teleoperations Working Group, Ames Research Center (1989-1991)
Member, NASA Lunar Instrument Definition Science Team (1989-1991)
Member, NASA Mars Telescope Science Group (1990)
Member, NASA Steering Committee, "Mars: Volcanism/Tectonism" study project (1987-1990)
Steering Committee, NASA Galilean Satellite Geological Mapping Program (1980-1990)
Member, NASA Mars Rover/Sample Return Science Working Group (1988-1989)
Proposal Review Panel Chairman, NASA Lunar and Planetary Geology Program, Review Panel (1976-1979), (1986-1989)
Chairman, Steering Committee, NASA project, Solar System Science on Space Station (1984-1988)
Chairman, Steering Committee, NASA project, Mars: Evolution of its Climate and Atmosphere (1984-1987)
Member, NASA Space Station Users Working Group, Goddard Space Flight Center (1985-1987)
Chairman, NASA Planetary Cartography Working Group (1984-1986)
Chairman, NASA Planetary Geology Working Group (1980-1984)
Member, NASA Lunar Nomenclature Subgroup (1974-1976)

Principal Investigator:

Jupiter Satellite Data Analysis Program (1999-2001)
Joint U.S.-Russia Investigator Program (1999-2001)
NASA-Astrobiology Institute (1998-present)
Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program (1970-present)
Mars Geological Mapping Program (1972-1974; 1988-1997)
Mars Data Analysis Program (1976-1981) (1999-present)
Lunar Data Analysis and Synthesis Program (1972-1975)
Venus Data Analysis Program (1993-1998)
Outer Planet Data Analysis Program (1984-1990)
Mars: Evolution of Volcanism, Tectonism, and Volatiles Program (1986-1989)
National Science Foundation, "Bolivian Ignimbrites" (1985-1987)
Shuttle Imaging Radar data analysis (1984-1985)
Mars: Evolution of Climate and Atmosphere Program (1983-1986)
Analysis of SIR-A (Radar) data (1983-1984)
Innovative use of the Space Station (1983)
Jupiter Data Analysis Program (1977-1983)
Apollo Data Analysis Program (1970-1972)

Co-investigator/Team member/Flight Projects:

Mars Exploration Rovers (2002-present)
Autonomous Sciencecraft Experiment (2000-present)
Mars Express imaging experiment (1998-present)
Mars Polar Lander, MVACS Imaging Team (1996-2000)
Galileo imaging team (1977-2003)
Mars Pathfinder imaging team (1994-1998)
SIR-C (Shuttle-Imaging Radar experiment) (1988-1997)
Mars 96 Imaging Experiment Team (1991-1996)
Viking Orbiter imaging team (1976-1980)

Guest Investigator/Flight Projects:

Mars 96 mission (1991-1996)
Magellan-Venus (1990-1992)
Mars Global Surveyor (2001-2003)