American Institute of Physics CEO Elected as 2020 APS Fellow

Michael Moloney honored “for exceptional contributions to physics research enterprise and science policy”

WASHINGTON, September 28, 2020 -- Michael Moloney, CEO of the American Institute of Physics, was elected a 2020 Fellow of the American Physical Society as recognition of his outstanding contributions to physics.

In a letter to Moloney informing him of the honor, APS president Philip Bucksbaum said the citation would read, “For exceptional contributions to physics research enterprise and science policy as overseer of studies conducted by the National Academies of Sciences boards on Space, and Physics and Astronomy, and by the National Materials Advisory Board; and for visionary leadership as CEO of the American Institute of Physics.” The official presentation of the certificate will be done at one of the APS annual meetings.

“It was such a distinct honor to be elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society and to hear about it from my friend, Phil Bucksbaum,” Moloney said. “The recognition of my efforts here at AIP, as well as during my previous tenure at the National Academies, to advance physics, astronomy and astrophysics, materials science, space exploration, and the physical sciences is humbling.”

“I am very appreciative of the opportunities I have had to work so closely with leaders from across the physical sciences in tackling some of the most challenging policy and program questions our nation’s science enterprise faces. There are many opportunities and challenges yet to come, and this is an exciting time to be involved in physics.”

Moloney joined AIP in 2018 as its ninth CEO, previously serving as the director for space and aeronautics at the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. He worked on more than 100 Academies studies over more than 15 years that spanned physical sciences disciplines.

He is originally from Ireland and spent seven years as an Irish foreign service officer. He earned his doctorate degree in physics from Trinity College Dublin.

Moloney is also a corresponding member of the International Academy of Astronautics and an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He is a member of the board of directors of the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, the organization managing the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory.

APS is a founding member and the largest of AIP’s 10 member societies. According to APS, the fellowship honor signifies recognition by one’s professional peers. Each year, no more than one half of 1% of the APS membership is recognized by their peers for election to the status of Fellow of the American Physical Society.

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About American Institute of Physics

The American Institute of Physics (AIP) is a 501(c)(3) membership corporation of scientific societies. AIP pursues its mission—to advance, promote, and serve the physical sciences for the benefit of humanity—with a unifying voice of strength from diversity. In its role as a federation, AIP advances the success of its Member Societies by providing the means to pool, coordinate, and leverage their diverse expertise and contributions in pursuit of a shared goal of advancing the physical sciences in the research enterprise, in the economy, in education, and in society. In its role as an institute, AIP operates as a center of excellence using policy analysis, social science, and historical research to promote future progress in the physical sciences.

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For more information:
Larry Frum, AIP Media
+1 301-209-3090
media@aip.org