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Board of Directors
Our volunteer Board of Directors is responsible for governing and setting The Planetary Society's policies and future directions. They are all leaders, chosen for their passion about and knowledge of space exploration.
The Society presently has 11 board members (more or fewer are permitted by charter) elected yearly by their peers. The Board normally meets twice per year. It has a Chairman, President, Vice President, and an Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee consists of officers Bethany Ehlmann, Jim Bell, Heidi Hammel and Lon Levin as well as Board Chair, Dan Geraci, and CEO, Bill Nye.
Nominations are sought and considered periodically from a variety of sources, including from members of the Board and Advisory Council, Society Members, staff, and experts in the space community.
Dan Geraci, Chairman of the Board
Dan Geraci joined the Planetary Society's Board of Directors in 2003 and has been Chairman since 2006. He is currently CEO & President of FreeFall Aerospace.
Bethany Ehlmann, President
Bethany Ehlmann joined The Planetary Society’s Board of Directors in 2018 and is a planetary scientist, mission principal investigator, public speaker, and author.
Heidi Hammel, Vice President
Heidi B. Hammel joined The Planetary Society's Board of Directors in 2005 and is an award-winning astronomer who studies the outer planets and their satellites.
Lon C. Levin, Treasurer
Lon Levin is an executive and entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in new media, telecommunications, and aerospace industries.
Jim Bell, Secretary
Jim Bell joined The Planetary Society's Board of Directors in 2005 and is a planetary scientist, educator, author, and public speaker.
Newton Campbell Jr.
Dr. Newton Campbell joined the Planetary Society as a member in 2014 and became a Board member in 2024.
John Grunsfeld
John Grunsfeld is a planetary scientist who served NASA as an astronaut, Associate Administrator of the Science Mission Directorate, and Chief Scientist. Today he is President and CEO of Endless Frontiers Associates. He joined The Planetary Society’s Board of Directors in 2022.
Bijal (Bee) Hayes-Thakore
A Planetary Society member and volunteer since the age of 12, Bee is a technologist who joined The Planetary Society’s Board in 2008 while serving as the Regional Coordinator for Asia Pacific at The Space Generation Advisory Council.
Lorne Trottier
Lorne Trottier joined The Planetary Society's board in 2023. He is the co-founder and President of Matrox Video.
Robert Picardo
Robert Picardo was a member of the Advisory Council since 1999 and joined the Board of Directors in 2015. He is an actor and known for his roles in movies and television, including the Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager.
Britney Schmidt
Britney Schmidt joined The Planetary Society’s Board of Directors in 2016. Her areas of expertise in planetary research include planetary ices and the early solar system.
Dipak Srinivasan
Dipak Srinivasan is a member of the Principal Staff at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), in its Space Exploration Sector.