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NSF Directors, 1950 to present
Dr. Alan T. Waterman
Term: April 1951 – June 1963
Field of science: Physics
Dr. Leland J. Haworth
Term: July 1963 – June 1969
Field of science: Physics
Dr. William D. McElroy+
Term: July 1969 – January 1972
Field of science: Biochemistry
Dr. H. Guyford Stever
Term: February 1972 – August 1976
Field of science: Physics
Dr. Richard C. Atkinson (acting)
Term: August 1976 – May 1977
Field of science: Psychology
Dr. Richard C. Atkinson
Term: May 1977 – June 1980
Field of Science: Psychology
Dr. Donald N. Langenberg, (acting)
Term: July 1980 – December 1980
Field of science: Physics
Dr. John B. Slaughter
Term: December 1980 – October 1982
Field of science: Engineering
Dr. Edward A. Knapp
Term: November 1982 – August 1984
Field of science: Physics
Mr. Erich Bloch
Term: September 1984 – August 1990
Field of science: Engineering
Dr. Frederick M. Bernthal (acting)
Term: September 1990 – March 1991
Field of science: Nuclear Chemistry / Physics
Dr. Walter E. Massey
Term: March 1991 – April 1993
Field of science: Physics
Dr. Frederick M. Bernthal (acting)
Term: April 1993 – October 1993
Field of science: Nuclear Chemistry / Physics
Dr. Neal F. Lane
Term: October 1993 – August 1998
Field of science: Physics
Dr. Rita R. Colwell
Term: August 1998 – February 2004
Field of science: Microbiology
Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr. (acting)
Term: February 2004 - November 2004
Field of science: Engineering
Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr.
Term: November 2004 – May 2010
Field of science: Engineering
Dr. Cora B. Marrett (acting)
Term: June 2010 – October 2010
Field of science: Sociology
Dr. Subra Suresh
Term: October 2010 – March 2013
Field of science: Engineering
Dr. Cora B. Marrett (acting)
Term: March 2013 – March 2014
Field of science: Sociology
Dr. France A. Córdova
Term: March 2014 – March 2020
Field of science: Astrophysics
Dr. Kelvin K. Droegemeier (acting)
Term: March 2020 – June 2020
Field of science: Atmospheric Science
Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan
Term: June 2020 – April 2025
Field of science: Computer Science
+By presidential order, Dr. Louis Levin, Executive Associate Director, also served as Acting Director from July 1,1969 to July 14, 1969 (until Dr. William McElroy's swearing-in on July 14, 1969).
NSF Deputy Directors, 1950 to present
Dr. C. E. Sunderlin
Term: May 1951 – May 1957
Field of science: Organic Chemistry
Vacancy in position of Deputy Director from FY 1957 through FY 1962
Dr. John T. Wilson
Term: July 1963 – July 1968
Field of science: Psychology
Dr. John T. Wilson
Executive Associate Director*
Term: July 1968 – August 1968
Field of science: Psychology
Dr. Louis Levin+
Executive Associate Director*
Term: August 1968 – October 1970
Field of science: Biochemistry
Dr. Raymond L. Bisplinghoff
Term: October 1970 – September 1974
Field of science: Aeronautical Engineering
Dr. Lowell J. Paige (acting)
Term: September 1974 – June 1975
Field of science: Mathematics
Dr. Richard C. Atkinson
Term: June 1975 – May 1977
Field of science: Psychology
Dr. Edward C. Creutz (acting)
Term: August 1976 – September 1977
Field of science: Physics
Dr. George C. Pimentel
Term: September 1977 – June 1980
Field of science: Chemistry
Dr. Donald N. Langenberg
Term: July 1980 – December 1982
Field of science: Physics
Dr. Richard S. Nicholson (acting)
Term: January 1983 – May 1985
Field of science: Chemistry
Dr. John H. Moore
Term: June 1985 – December 1989
Field of science: Economics
Dr. John White (acting)
Term: September 1990 – March 1991
Field of science: Industrial Engineering
Dr. Frederick M. Bernthal
Term: March 1990 – April 1993
Field of science: Nuclear Chemistry / Physics
Dr. Mary E. Clutter (acting)
Term: April 1993 – October 1993
Field of science: Biology
Dr. Frederick M. Bernthal
Term: October 1993 – June 1994
Field of science: Nuclear Chemistry / Physics
Dr. Mary E. Clutter (acting)
Term: June 1994 – July 1994
Field of science: Biology
Dr. Anne C. Petersen
Term: July, 1994 - September, 1996
Field of science: Behavioral Science
Dr. Joseph Bordogna (acting)
Term: September 1996 – June 1999
Field of science: Engineering
Dr. Joseph Bordogna
Term: June 1999 – June 2005
Field of science: Engineering
Dr. Kathie L. Olsen
Term: August 2005 – January 2009
Field of science: Biology (neuroscience)
Dr. Cora B. Marrett (acting)
Term: January 2009 – January 2011
Field of science: Sociology
Dr. Cora B. Marrett
Term: May 2011 – August 2014
Field of science: Sociology
*P.L. 90-407 amended the NSF Act to permit NSF to have a deputy director and four assistant directors appointed by the President. Until these appointments were made, the duties of the deputy director were discharged by an executive associate director.
+By presidential order, Dr. Louis Levin also served as Acting Director from July 1,1969 to July 14, 1969 (until Dr. William McElroy's swearing-in on July 14, 1969).
