As a Director-at-Large on the UNAVCO Board of Directors I will strive to fulfill my fiduciary obligations to ensure that UNAVCO pursues its mission objectives in the fullest, most effective ways possible. I will commit my own services insofar as I am able to promote UNAVCO's objectives. As a non-Institutional Director, I will try to bring an independent perspective and to build bridges of cooperation with other related groups and agencies whenever that may be mutually useful. At this particular moment especially, as UNAVCO begins a new, even more challenging phase, it would be an honor to be associated with such a dynamic and worthy organization. I hope that my involvement can contribute in some small way to an even more successful UNAVCO.

Jim Ray Biography

Personal Information:
   Name:                Jim R. Ray
   Address:             NOAA, National Geodetic Survey
                        N/NGS6, SSMC3/8117
                        1315 East-West Hwy
                        Silver Spring, MD  20910-3282
                        USA
   Phones:              +1-301-713-2850 (office)
                        +1-202-328-8655 (home)
   E-mail:              jimrngs.noaa.gov
   Citizenship:         USA

Education:              Rice University, Houston, TX  77251, B.A., May 1972
                           (Mathematics)
                        Rice University, Houston, TX  77251, M.S., May 1979
                           (Space Physics & Astronomy)
                        Rice University, Houston, TX  77251, Ph.D., May 1980
                           (Space Physics & Astronomy)

Professional Experience:
   Oct. 2002 - now:     Geodesist, Geosciences Research Division,
                           National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic &
                           Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD
                        Duties:  Support of GPS orbit analysis software for
                        global analyses and IGS products; incorporation of
                        improved geophysical models; assist with civilian
                        interface to the GPS system; improved realization &
                        maintenance of the national & global reference frames;
                        analysis & improvement of multi-technique Earth
                        orientation parameters; use of GPS for precise time &
                        frequency transfer.
   Apr. 1997 - May 2002: Supervisory Physicist & Head of the Earth Orientation
                           Department, U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, DC
                        Duties:  Supervise USNO Earth Orientation Department;
                        provide high-accuracy Earth orientation observations
                        & predictions; support international VLBI program;
                        contribute to IGS Rapid & Ultra-rapid products;
                        participate in IERS; collaborate with other national
                        & international groups.
   Jan. 1992 - Apr. 1997: Geodesist, Geosciences Laboratory, National Oceanic
                           & Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD
                        Duties:  Led NOAA VLBI observing & data analysis
                        program; coordinated operations with VLBI stations;
                        investigated improvements to VLBI technique; studied
                        high-frequency Earth rotation variations including
                        utility of GPS; assisted with improved GPS data
                        analysis; coordinated inter-agency and international
                        programs.
   Jun. 1984 - Sep. 1991: Senior Scientist, Interferometrics Inc., Vienna, VA
                        Duties:  Contractor NASA Crustal Dynamics Project VLBI
                        group at GSFC; R&D for VLBI technique improvement
                        including study of using VLBI phase delays,
                        tropospheric effects, instrumental error sources,
                        comparisons with other techniques, etc.; monitored
                        VLBI data quality; studied use of radio interferometry
                        to track NASA's TDRS satellites; led a NASA SBIR
                        project (phases I and II) for satellite tracking
                        system.

Professional Memberships:
   American Geophysical Union (Geodesy Section)
      member of Geodesy Section executive committee
   European Geophysical Union
   American Astronomical Society
   International Astronomical Union (IAU)
      member, IAU Commissions 19 (Earth Rotation) and 31 (Time)
      elected member of Organizing Committee of IAU Commission 19
   International Association for Geodesy (IAG), associate
      member of former IAG Special Study Group on Interactions of the
         Earth's Rotational Dynamics
   International Earth Rotation Service (IERS), associate
      former member of the IERS Directing Board
      past head of IERS Rapid Service/Prediction Center
      past chair & member of the IERS Working Group on the ITRF Datum
   International GPS Service (IGS), associate
      member of IGS Governing Board
      past co-chair of the IGS/BIPM Pilot Project to Study Time Transfer
      member of the IGS Reference Frame and Clock Products Working Groups
   BIPM Consultative Committee for Time and Frequency
      invited guest delegate to 14th & 15th meetings
   National Earth Orientation Service (NEOS), former board member

Last modified Tuesday, 08-Nov-2005 02:34:41 UTC