President Trump Appoints Mechanical Engineer to National Science Board

The White House recently announced two new appointments to the National Science Board (NSB), which will bring the body to its full capacity of 25 members, including the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), who serves as an ex officio member. Among the two newly appointed members is Scott Stanley, Vice President of Technology for Techno Planet Inc., an aerospace engineering firm he co-founded in 2008. Stanley received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Loyola Marymount University. Stanley will be the third mechanical engineer currently serving on the board.

The National Science Board meets about five times a year and has a duty to recommend and encourage the pursuit of national policies for the promotion of research and education in science and engineering.

According to the NSB’s own website, “the National Science Board has two important roles. First, it establishes the policies of NSF within the framework of applicable national policies set forth by the President and the Congress. In this capacity, the Board identifies issues that are critical to NSF's future, approves NSF's strategic budget directions and the annual budget submission to the Office of Management and Budget, and approves new major programs and awards. The second role of the Board is to serve as an independent body of advisors to both the President and the Congress on policy matters related to science and engineering and education in science and engineering. In addition to major reports, the NSB also publishes occasional policy papers or statements on issues of importance to U.S. science and engineering.”

A full list of NSB members can be found at: https://www.nsf.gov/nsb/members/index.jsp.