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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 - Present
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).