[SPA] SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER, Volume XXIX, Issue 64

[Newsletter Editor]

AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION
SPA SECTION NEWSLETTER
Volume XXIX, Issue 64
Nov.02,2022

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Table of Contents

1. Passing of Dr. Robert A. Hoffman

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Announcement Submission Website: http://goo.gl/forms/qjcm4dDr4g


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Passing of Dr. Robert A. Hoffman

From: Jesper Gjerloev, Nicky Fox, Barbara Giles, Rob Pfaff (jesper.gjerloev at jhuapl.edu)

It is with deep regret we report that Dr. Robert (Bob) A. Hoffman, 89, passed away on Oct 23, 2022.

Bob received his B.S. degree in physics from St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota, and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Minnesota in 1962.  His thesis, which was written under J. R. Winckler, involved instrumentation and data analysis on Explorer 6.  Bob joined Goddard Space Flight Center in late 1961 on a National Academy of Sciences Associateship before becoming a Civil Servant.  His primary interests were experimental investigations of the Earth’s ring current, auroral acceleration and precipitation, auroral electrodynamics and magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling.

Bob was a leader in every sense of the word. During his tenure at NASA, he served as the principal investigator for instrumentation on a number of flight projects, beginning with OGO-2, and he also served as project scientist for Explorer 45, Dynamics Explorer and Pegsat.  In 1989, he assumed direction of the Goddard chemical release program.  He was the project scientist for the Polar mission of the International Solar Terrestrial Physics Program as well as the Goddard Lead Definition Scientist for Geospace for the Living with a Star Program and the Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission at the time of his retirement in January 2003.  

Bob was exceptional at what he did. His work was recognized by NASA, and he received many awards and accolades including the Medal of Exceptional Scientific Achievement and the Exceptional Service Medal. He was also awarded the Exceptional Performance Award and Outstanding Leadership Award by Goddard.

Bob and his beloved wife Barbara honeymooned at Cocoa Beach in Florida—a trip that mixed business with a whole lot of pleasure.  The trip coincided with one of NASA’s first satellite missions and when asked about the trip, Bob would smile and respond, “It’s classified.” At one point, Bob and his brother John Hoffman of the University of Texas at Dallas had instruments on the same mission. This marked one of the only times that a pair of siblings have flown their own instruments on the same mission.

Despite all of his work, commitments and leadership efforts, Bob always made time to mentor students and support those early in their career.  In fact, many of the current leaders in our community got their start with Bob’s help.  His impact on our community cannot be overstated and anyone working on a science traceability matrix should stop for a minute and thank Bob for promoting this tool.

Bob is survived by his two children, Cindy and David, and their families.  He also leaves behind a community that will forever love him and owes him much. Bob will be deeply missed and all who knew him will be forever grateful for the time they got to spend with him.


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