Dr. James Garvin is the Chief Scientist for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and provides strategic advice on the scientific priorities and directions for the Center to its senior management, as well as for the Agency. Born in a blizzard in Poughkeepsie, New York, Dr. Garvin has been fascinated with the Moon, Mars, rocks, and science ever since his earliest childhood. Mesmerized by desert landscapes of the Middle East and Australia during his time abroad as a child, his fascination with the natural world embraced the space frontier. He got his Ph.D. in planetary geological sciences from Brown University and came to NASA Goddard in 1984. His 22 year career as a NASA scientist has spanned such disciplines as Earth system science, Mars Exploration, lunar exploration, Venus, asteroids, and the outer planets. Dr. Garvin has served in several key leadership positions at NASA. Prior to assuming the role of chief scientist at Goddard, he was NASA’s chief scientist serving the agency and the administrator as the primary advisor for the entire NASA science portfolio. Dr. Garvin has received two NASA Outstanding Leadership medals for developing the highly successful science strategy behind the current Mars Exploration Program, and for the formulation of the science role of the Mars Exploration Rover mission. He is also the recipient of the 2004 William Rogers Award for his outstanding contributions to society.