Kevin Murphy

Kevin Murphy is the Chief Science Data Officer for Science Mission Directorate (SMD) at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. In this role, he works across the five science divisions to advance AI, cloud computing, and data science for NASA’s scientific data, ensuring that NASA’s data is accessible to and usable by scientists worldwide. Murphy oversees the strategic planning and implementation of data and computing systems and robust infrastructures that underpin NASA’s scientific initiatives.

Murphy previously served as Program Executive for Earth Science Data Systems, where he was responsible for the production and distribution of data from NASA’s fleet of Earth-observing satellites to users worldwide. He initiated the Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition Program and led the Satellite Needs Assessment Working Group. During his 15-year tenure at the Goddard Space Flight Center, he developed and managed projects including near real-time science data production systems, search engines, scientific data visualization systems, and earthdata.nasa.gov.

Murphy holds a master’s degree in Geography from the University of Maryland and a bachelor’s degree in Geography from Clark University. His leadership and accomplishments have been recognized with numerous awards, including the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, Robert H. Goddard Exceptional Achievement for Engineering, Charles S. Falkenberg Award, and Fed 100 Award.