Below is a list of SOFIA senior leadership from the inception of the program.

Science Mission Operations Director
Years Served Name
2008-2008 Eric Becklin
2008-2009 Donald Kniffen
2009-2016 Erick Young
2016-2020 Harold Yorke
2020-2023 Margaret Meixner
2023 William Reach

DSI Science Mission Operations Deputy Director
Years Served Name
2010-2018 Hans Zinnecker
2018-2023 Bernhard Schulz

USRA Project Scientist
Years Served Name
1996-2006 Jackie Davidson

USRA Project Manager
Years Served Name
1996-2005 Thomas Bonner
2005-2007 James Kephart
2007-2008 John McClelland
2008-2015 Helen Hall
2015-2018 Roberta Leftwich-Vann
2018-2020 Hina Kazmi
2021-2023 Elizabeth Barker

NASA Project Scientist
Years Served Name
1996-2001 Edwin Erickson
2001-2005 Thomas Greene
2005-2006 Alexander Tielens
2006-2008 Thomas Roellig
2008-2009 Jay Norris
2009-2010 Thomas Roellig
2010-2016 Pamela Marcum
2017-2019 Kimberly Ennico Smith
2019-2019 Thomas Roellig
2019-2023 Naseem Rangwala

SOFIA Program Scientists at NASA Headquarters
Years Served Name
1988-1997 Larry Caroff
1997-1998 Harley Thronson
1998-2000 Guy Stringfellow
2000-2004 Paul Hertz
2004-2007 Hashima Hasan
2007-2012 Paul Hertz
2012-2012 Chris Davis
2012-2015 Glenn Wahlgren
2015-2015 Eric Tollestrup
2015-2017 Hashima Hasan
2017-2020 Kartik Sheth
2020-2023 Patricia Knezek