Space Science Solutions LLC

Dr. Nicholas White is a senior aerospace and science executive with more than 40 years of leadership across NASA, ESA, national research institutions, and academia. At NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, he served for over two decades in top executive roles—most notably as Director of the Sciences and Exploration Directorate, where he led a workforce of 2,500 civil servants, university researchers, engineers, and contractors across major space science, technology, and mission development portfolios. In this role he set strategic direction, stewarded large-scale R&D programs, advanced mission concepts, and drove organizational growth, talent development, and interagency partnerships.

Prior to that, Dr. White served as Director of NASA’s Astrophysics Science Division, Chief of the Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics, and Head of the X-ray Astrophysics Branch. His leadership shaped numerous flagship and probe-class mission strategies, including the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, the International X-ray Observatory, Constellation-X, and early groundwork for the Roman Space Telescope. He played a central role in the multi-agency Beyond Einstein / Physics of the Universe initiative, coordinating strategy across NASA, NSF, DOE, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Following NASA, Dr. White served as Senior Vice President for Science at the Universities Space Research Association, overseeing national research institutes and programs supporting NASA centers, the Lunar and Planetary Institute, the NASA Postdoctoral Program, and the Arecibo Observatory partnership. His portfolio included multi-institutional operations, budget and personnel leadership, risk management, and strategic planning.

Currently a Research Professor of Physics at George Washington University, Dr. White continues to lead mission concept development and partnerships for next-generation gamma-ray and multi-messenger observatories. He is a Fellow of both the American Astronomical Society and the American Physical Society and is widely recognized for his ability to integrate scientific vision, organizational leadership, and cross-agency strategy to advance complex space initiatives.