Jannuzi Stepping Down as Director of the Kitt Peak National Observatory

Buell Jannuzi will be stepping down as Director of the Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) effective 1 June 2010. During his five years as Director of KPNO, the Observatory experienced resurgence and revitalization. A major new capability, the wide-field near-infrared imager NEWFIRM, was commissioned on the Mayall 4-m telescope. The bright future for KPNO includes a new spectrograph (KOSMOS) and an upgraded wide-field imager (MOSAIC 1.1) for the Mayall, as well as the One-Degree Imager (ODI) on the WIYN 3.5-m telescope, which will be the premier wide-field imager in the northern hemisphere. Over the longer term, a Large Science Program at the Mayall has the potential to bring a powerful new capability to that facility (see related article below).

In announcing his decision to step down, Jannuzi acknowledged the Kitt Peak staff for their role in the Observatory’s revival. He recollected that, “When I became KPNO Director almost five years ago, many people thought I would be presiding over the closing of the 4-m and the rest of the facilities on Kitt Peak, at least as national facilities. I was confident, however, that the scientific potential of the site, the facilities and, most importantly, the staff of KPNO would allow a scientifically exciting future for KPNO to be realized. I am proud of how we worked together to bring KPNO through this stormy period of its history, to rejoin the fleet of NOAO, intact and improved, as a key component of the US System of astronomical facilities.”

NOAO Director David Silva thanked Jannuzi for his service, remarking that “Buell has accomplished many great things at KPNO in the face of significant financial and managerial adversity, both as a member of the science staff and as KPNO Director. I am extremely grateful for his years of service to the Observatory and to the US community at large as well as for his direct support and assistance to me during my first two years as NOAO Director.”

AURA is initiating an international search for a new KPNO Director. In parallel, an interim management team is being put in place to allow for a smooth transition between Directors. We will provide updates on the KPNO Director search in future issues of Currents.