Revercomb to direct Space Science and Engineering Center

Henry E. Revercomb has been named director of the Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC), Martin Cadwallader, dean of the Graduate School, announced today (Oct. 20).

Revercomb has served as interim director since 1999, when Francis Bretherton retired from the position.

In appointing Revercomb, Cadwallader said, “I very much appreciate the role of SSEC on campus and am very proud that it is part of the Graduate School. I especially appreciate the way that you work as a team to fulfill the mission of SSEC.”

Revercomb has been an SSEC scientist since shortly after receiving his doctorate in 1972 from UW–Madison. Trained as a physicist, he has specialized in the study of planetary atmospheres and in remote sensing. He helped design several new spacecraft instruments and, in addition, has led the design and fabrication of aircraft- and ground-based instruments.

What’s more, Revercomb has served on national and international science teams such as those devoted to Pioneer Venus and the Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder. He currently is on a team developing new instruments for measuring the Earth’s weather from geosynchronous orbit.

In announcing his acceptance of the directorship to the SSEC staff, he said he believes that “this is a very exciting time for the center,” adding, “I pledge to do my part, in partnership with all of you, to push back the frontiers.”

SSEC was founded in 1965 by Verner E. Suomi, a world-renowned meteorologist known as the father of weather satellites, and Robert Parent, a professor in the College of Engineering. Together, they developed instruments to measure Earth’s heat budget from the first weather satellites. Today, the center is supported with grants and contracts, primarily from U.S. agencies including NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation.