Lunar Exploration Analysis Group

The Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG) plans on filling at least three positions within its Executive Committee (ExComm) in the next 6 months. In an effort to increase an understanding for the different ExComm roles as well as transparency to the application process, the ExComm has included (1) Information for various positions and (2) the evaluation rubric in this document. Evaluations in future years may utilize a modified rubric as we work to improve our practice for selecting new ExComm members.

LEAG Executive Committee (ExComm) Application Process

Interested applicants should prepare: (1) a 2-page CV or resume; and (2) a short personal statement (maximum 500 words) describing commitment to, and experience with, lunar exploration, reason(s) for interest in the LEAG ExComm, and the specific position(s) of interest accompanied by additional information highlighted in the corresponding ExComm role(s) listed below. Candidates should also discuss their past/current engagement with LEAG or other entities within the lunar community (e.g., LSIC); candidates are not required to have participated in LEAG meetings in the past but should be able to demonstrate engagement with another lunar community group. For transparency, all candidates will be evaluated based on the rubric below each position description.

LEAG Executive Committee positions are solicited approximately once per year. Open positions will be posted here when solicited and will be communicated to the community with deadlines for application submission.

Common Elements for all ExComm Roles

• Role Expectations
  • Represent the lunar community and provide input to NASA regarding lunar science and exploration
  • Support the goals of LEAG as they relate to exploration, commercial, industrial, and scientific purposes
  • Endorse the Lunar Exploration Roadmap
  • Engage other members of the LEAG Executive Committee in discussions over LEAG decisions and actions.
  • Engage with the full diverse set of the lunar community from all professional backgrounds (e.g., academia, science, engineering, commerce, government)
  • Be an active participant at all LEAG ExComm meetings. Contribute feedback on reports and other requests for information, represent LEAG at meetings periodically, and participate in Specific Action Teams (SATs) or other groups as opportunities arise.
• Requirements for Participation in LEAG ExComm
  • U.S. Citizen OR non-U.S. citizen based at a US institution
  • Demonstrated interest in lunar exploration
  • Interest and Experience specific to different roles
  • Bachelor’s degree in relevant field and working towards or completed a post-bachelor’s degree (e.g., master’s and/or Ph.D.)
  • Communication skills (oral and/or written)
  • Desire to support the lunar community
  • Experience in community activities and engaging diverse viewpoints
• Time Commitment
  • 1 monthly ExComm virtual meeting (1 hour)
  • 3-4 hours of additional LEAG work per month (+ more depending on role, e.g., LEAG Chair; SAT roles require more short-term work)
  • Attend the LEAG Annual Meeting (typically 2.5 days in the Fall) in person or online
  • Additional time commitments specific to different roles are included below
• Compensation
  • Most ExComm positions are volunteer roles (see LEAG Chair description for exception)
  • Travel expenses to attend the LEAG Annual Meeting are covered for all ExComm
• Potential Benefits
  • Direct engagement in discussions and feedback about lunar science and exploration strategies and priorities
  • Potential to regularly interact with key stakeholders within the lunar community
  • Engage in a service activity that is meaningful, impactful, and well-regarded in the lunar community
  • Engagement with NASA HQ
  • Potential to gain experience working with a dynamic and engaged group of professionals for the benefit of lunar exploration
  • Potential to lead or support Specific Action Teams (SATs)
  • Potential to respond to official “Requests for Information” (RFI) as needed

Specific Elements for each LEAG ExComm Role

LEAG Chair

• Role Expectations
  • Represent the lunar science and exploration community as the lead of the largest Analysis Group
  • Coordinate and lead the ExComm as well as oversee technical management of ongoing activities such as Specific Action Teams (SATs)
  • Represent and advocate for diverse lunar science and exploration community interests to stakeholders such as the National Academies, the NASA Advisory Council, and the Planetary Science Advisory Committee (PAC), speaking often to these and other groups upon request
  • Lead responses to requests for information and programmatic inputs by NASA
  • Lead generation of Findings report from the annual meeting
  • Correspond and/or meet with members of the community to hear concerns and ideas
• Requirements for Position
  • Active participation in the lunar science and exploration community and familiarity with NASA’s lunar science and exploration activities
  • Excellent oral presentation skills
  • Ability to delegate
  • Active listening and a desire to ensure an inclusive lunar community where all members have a voice
• Time Commitment and Compensation
  • LEAG Chair, as all AG Chairs do, receives 1 month (165 hours) compensation
  • Typically, 8–20+ hours per month (on top of monthly ExComm meeting); most months are approximately 10–15 hours, and the month leading up to the Annual Meeting generally requires more time than others.
• Potential Benefits
  • Direct engagement with the NASA HQ liaison and other members of NASA HQ to provide input relevant to the entire lunar community
  • Develop relationships with different members of the community
  • Assist in the development of lunar exploration
• Additional Application Information for this Role
  • In the short statement, describe leadership experience, your philosophy for running the LEAG ExComm, and your vision for LEAG in the coming years. An additional 200 words (for a total limit of 700) is allowed if needed for candidates to respond to the LEAG Chair role.

Astrophysics Community Liaison

• Role Expectations
  • Maintain awareness of relevant meetings, events, documents (e.g., decadal survey), etc. from the astrophysics community that pertain to the Moon.
• Requirements for Position
  • Direct experience with astrophysics research and the astrophysics community
• Time Commitment
  • Typically, 1 hour or less per month. Occasionally up to a few hours for limited amounts of time depending on events.
• Potential Benefits
  • Helping to maintain and strengthen a bond between the astrophysics community and lunar scientists and engineers to find common ground for lunar exploration.
• Additional Application Information for this Role
  • There are a number of conferences that occur annually where pockets of astrophysicists that have an interest in the Moon gather (e.g., NASA Exploration Science Forum, 21 cm Cosmology Workshop series, American Astronomical Society meetings, American Geophysical Union). In the short statement, describe how you would maintain situational awareness of the Astrophysics community for lunar-related work, such as attending these meetings.

At-Large Member

• Role Expectations
  • Work on specific tasks, as directed by the LEAG chair, with impact to the lunar community. These tasks may include leading efforts (e.g., responding to RFI’s such as regarding SPD 41) or supporting efforts of the LEAG Chair or LEAG Science, Exploration, and Technology Chairs.
  • Lead or support Specific Action Team (SAT) requested by NASA or the LEAG Chair
  • Support the LEAG Operations Chair in planning LEAG-sponsored meetings
• Requirements for Position
  • Demonstrated interest in advancing lunar science, exploration, and/or technology
  • Demonstrated interest in leading or supporting working groups organized to address timely issues to NASA and/or the lunar community
• Time Commitment:
  • The effort is highly variable and tied to specific tasks provided by the LEAG Chair and mased on the unique expertise of the At-Large member.
• Potential Benefits:
  • Potential to support and “fill gaps” within the LEAG ExComm expertise
• Additional Application Information for this Role:
  • In the short statement, describe particular expertise or experiences that may “fill gaps” in the main body of the ExComm.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Chair

• Role Expectations
  • Work to promote equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in the lunar community (while the incoming chair should feel free to enact their own ideas, past examples of this include: organizing the Inclusive Lunar Exploration Lunar Surface Science Workshop, adding an EDI session to the LEAG annual meeting, creating a mentoring program at the LEAG annual meeting, and ensuring that LEAG meetings are accessible such as the use of hybrid format and closed captioning when possible)
  • Work with the LEAG Chair and Operations Chair to ensure that LEAG meetings are inclusive and accessible
  • Serve as the LEAG representative to the Cross-AG IDEA Working Group
• Requirements for Position
  • Demonstrated interest in promoting EDI+A within the planetary science/exploration community (i.e., within place of employment, a working group, or any other community that exists in relation to planetary science and/or exploration)
• Time Commitment
  • Depending on the EDI work the selectee decides to pursue, more time may be required (e.g., organizing the Inclusive Lunar Exploration LSSW required more short-term work).
• Potential Benefits
  • Potential to elevate your voice within the lunar community and to impact diversity and inclusion at a pivotal time in lunar exploration
  • Work with representatives from other AGs on the cross-AG working group to find common ground for all exploration communities
• Additional Application Information for this Role
  • In the short statement, describe commitment to, and experience with EDI in planetary science/exploration, and how you would work towards inclusion and equity within the lunar community.

Human Exploration Chair

• Role Expectations
  • Work to ensure continuity and relationships between LEAG/lunar community priorities and human exploration. Past examples of this include chairing and serving on LEAG SATs (Specific Action Teams) and other LEAG and/or SMD requested efforts to integrate science priorities into human spaceflight documents and efforts (i.e., AOA SAT, CLOC-SAT, etc.); reviewing documentation as requested by LEAG and/or SMD to represent science integration into human spaceflight.
  • Maintain awareness over areas where LEAG input is needed in the human spaceflight realm.
• Requirements for Position
  • Demonstrated knowledge, interest, and potentially involvement and experience in the integration of science in human spaceflight (and/or human exploration analog activities)
• Time Commitment
  • The effort is highly variable and tied to specific tasks provided by the LEAG Chair. If working to lead or support a SAT or a response to an RFI, commitment may be as high as 10 hours per month for a limited amount of time as set by the SAT schedule (e.g., 1–12 months). If not leading or supporting a SAT/RFI response, time commitment is much less (1–2 hours/month)
• Potential Benefits
  • Ensure that the community is aware of and engaged with opportunities to promote and improve human spaceflight.
  • Potential to lead or support Specific Action Teams.
• Additional Application Information for this Role
  • In the short statement, describe awareness of, or direct involvement in, integrating science into human spaceflight

Operations Chair

• Role Expectations
  • Lead the planning of the LEAG annual meeting. Responsibilities include all aspects of meeting logistics including organizing the meeting website, abstract call, meeting venue, leading creation of meeting schedule/sessions, inviting speakers, facilitating hybrid meeting capabilities.
  • Work closely with the LEAG chair and an ad-hoc committee to facilitate the annual meeting
• Requirements for Position
  • Attendance at the annual meeting is required.
  • Attended (in person or virtually) at least 1 prior Analysis Group meeting (not restricted to just LEAG)
  • Organizational skills. Planning the meeting starts approximately 6 months in advance and requires collaboration between multiple institutions
  • Flexibility. Speakers may sometimes be added and removed from the meeting program at the last minute
  • Professionalism. Invited speakers at the annual meeting include leaders from across academia, industry, and government. The Operations Chair is often the primary point of contact between the speakers and the LEAG ExComm
• Time Commitment
  • Highly dependent on time of year and how close the Annual LEAG meeting is. A few (2–3) hours per month approximately 4-6 months before annual meeting. approximately 1-4 hours per week in the months prior to and including the annual meeting. Attendance at the annual meeting is required (3 days).
• Potential Benefits
  • Direct engagement in discussions and feedback about lunar science and exploration strategies and priorities
  • Excellent opportunity for exposure through planning the annual meeting, inviting speakers, helping to run the meeting, sending periodic emails to the lunar community
  • Will likely result in improved organizational abilities
  • Extensive experience planning mid-sized professional meetings with both in-person and virtual components
• Additional Application Information for this Role
  • In the short statement, describe prior experience in attending AG and/or other community (e.g., LSIC) meetings and experience with organizing events (formal or informal).

Science Chair

• Role Expectations
  • Advocate for lunar science priorities and for opportunities to increase the lunar science return of activities in NASA’s Planetary Science Division, Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program, and human exploration activities including Artemis
  • Lead the development of the LEAG Lunar Science Goals document, involving the LEAG community to describe lunar science goals, objectives, and measurement requirements/implementation options drawing from consensus community documents (e.g., Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey, Scientific Context for Exploration of the Moon, Lunar Exploration Roadmap)
• Requirements for Position
  • Lunar science research experience
  • Demonstrated familiarity lunar science priorities as recorded in key consensus documents (e.g., Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey, Scientific Context for Exploration of the Moon, Lunar Exploration Roadmap)
  • Preferred experience in mission concept development or traceability of science goals and objectives to measurement objectives and requirements
  • Preferred experience developing consensus within groups of diverse opinions
• Time Commitment
  • An average commitment of 4-10 hours per month is anticipated, with focused bursts related to creation of the Lunar Science Goals document (a primary focus of 2023-2024 for this role) and the LEAG annual meeting
• Potential Benefits
  • Direct engagement in discussions and feedback about lunar science and exploration strategies and priorities
  • Collaboration and engagement with a wide range of lunar science and exploration community members
• Additional Application Information for this Role
  • Please describe your vision for how the LEAG science chair will engage the community and advocate for lunar science in the coming years.

Technology Chair

• Role Expectations
  • Work to promote technology development in the lunar community. Past examples of this include representing LEAG at LSIC (Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium) bi-annual meetings and focus group meetings; representing LEAG in discussions with technologists in NASA SMD (Science Mission Directorate) and STMD (Space Technology Mission Directorate); service on the organizing committees for the 2022 LSIC fall meeting and the 2023 SMD Technology Showcase.
  • Serve as the LEAG representative on the LSIC executive committee.
• Requirements for Position
  • Demonstrated interest in promoting technology development in the lunar community.
• Time Commitment
  • Depending on the number of LSIC working groups the selectee decides to engage with, more time may be required (e.g., each of the 6 focus groups has monthly telecons).
• Potential Benefits
  • Potential to impact technology development at a pivotal time in lunar exploration.
• Additional Application Information for this Role:
  • In the short statement describe experience with technology/instrumentation.

Workforce Development Chair

• Role Expectations
  • Work to promote the interests of early career researchers within the lunar science and exploration community
  • Work with the LEAG Chair, Operations Chair, and EDI chair to ensure that LEAG annual meetings have support mechanisms for early career community members
  • Sit on the selection committees of travel awards for the LEAG meeting
  • Interface with early career groups in the planetary science community
  • Take and distribute notes at monthly LEAG executive committee meetings
  • This is a full ExComm position, and while many responsibilities will be early career-focused, this member will also be responsible for representing the lunar community and providing input regarding lunar science and exploration.
• Requirements for Position:
  • Flexibility to fill in where needed to support LEAG goals
  • Active listening and ensuring that all members, and especially early career researchers, have a voice in the lunar community
  • Be less than 10 years out from receiving your terminal degree
• Time Commitment
  • This position typically takes no more than 5 hours per month, plus the time it takes to attend the LEAG annual meeting.
• Potential Benefits
  • Develop relationships with different members of the community, and especially early career researchers
  • Assist in the development the lunar workforce
• Additional Application Information for this Role
  • In the short statement, describe your commitment to helping with challenges that early career researchers face within the lunar community

Evaluation Rubric

Unless a candidate states otherwise, applicants will be evaluated for each position using the following rubric.