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Alex MacDonald
Chief Economist at NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Alex MacDonald is the Chief Economist at NASA, a position he has held since September 2019.1 He has a distinguished career spanning over 17 years at NASA, working across various centers and roles.2
Career at NASA
MacDonald's journey at NASA includes:
- Chief Economist (September 2019 - Present)1
- Senior Economic Advisor (January 2016 - September 2019)1
- Program Executive for Emerging Space (September 2014 - September 2016)1
- Executive Staff Specialist at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (January 2014 - September 2019)1
- Program Manager at NASA Ames Research Center (January 2012 - January 2014)1
- Economist at NASA Ames Research Center (2008 - 2012)1
Expertise and Contributions
MacDonald is recognized as an expert on:
- Economic history of American space exploration
- Contemporary private-sector space activities
- Space economics and policy3
He has authored and edited several NASA reports, including:
- "Emerging Space: The Evolving Landscape of 21st Century American Spaceflight"
- "Public-Private Partnerships for Space Capability Development"
- "Economic Development of Low-Earth Orbit"34
MacDonald has played a significant role in developing NASA's Artemis Program, the agency's strategy for commercial Low-Earth Orbit activities, and has served as the program executive for the International Space Station National Laboratory.45
Education
- DPhil in Economic History from the University of Oxford (2005 - 2012)1
- Master of Arts in Economics from the University of British Columbia (2004 - 2005)1
- Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Queen's University (2000 - 2004)1
Awards and Recognition
- Inaugural TED Senior Fellow3
- AIAA History Manuscript of the Year Award in 2016 for his book "The Long Space Age: The Economic Origins of Space Exploration from Colonial America to the Cold War"3
MacDonald's work at NASA has focused on guiding the agency's economic strategy, increasing engagement with commercial space companies, and influencing NASA's understanding of space as an engine of economic growth.4