Robert McCoy, director of the Geophysical Institute at UAF, was elected to the governing board of the Universities Space Research Association, or USRA, in early May.

USRA is an independent, nonprofit research corporation that promotes the advancement of space-related science, technology and engineering. USRA operates scientific institutes and facilities, conducts other major research and educational programs and has close ties with NASA.

“With membership of 113 universities performing space research, USRA has a deep bench of space expertise,” McCoy said. “I hope to use my new position to spotlight space research in Alaska.”

The USRA board of trustees has 15 members, including nine regional trustees, one for each of nine regional groups of the member universities, and four at-large trustees. McCoy will represent region IX.

Alaska is an active aerospace state, with two rocket ranges, the largest NASA satellite downlink facility in the U.S., the High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program and one of the first and largest unmanned aircraft programs in the country.

Founded in 1969 by the National Academy of Sciences, USRA was chartered to advance space-related science, technology and engineering. USRA operates scientific institutes and facilities and conducts other major research and educational programs.

Renu Malhotra of the University of Arizona and Brian E. Gilchrist of the University of Michigan were elected chair and co-chair of the Council of Institutions, a separate governing body that elects the board of directors.

“I very much look forward to working with Drs. Malhotra, Gilchrist and McCoy,” Jeffrey A. Isaacson, USRA President and CEO was quoted in a news release. “They bring recognized expertise in key space-related disciplines, understanding of the needs of our sponsors, and intimate knowledge of the communities we serve.”