National Science Board elects new leadership
UDC's Victor McCrary elected chair and Catholic University's Aaron Dominguez elected vice chair
During its July 24 meeting, the board elected Victor McCrary as its chair and Aaron Dominguez as its vice chair.
McCrary — vice president for research and professor of chemistry at the University of the District of Columbia — replaces former Chair Darío Gil, who stepped down from the board to serve as under secretary for science at the U.S. Department of Energy. Dominguez — executive vice president and provost at The Catholic University of America — assumes McCrary's former role as NSB vice chair.
McCrary and Dominguez are energized to continue the momentum of National Science Board initiatives focused on:
- The U.S. National Science Foundation's critical role in winning the technology race with China.
- Fueling U.S. innovation through basic research and cultivating science and technology talent across the country, from skilled technical workers to doctoral researchers.
- Fostering multi-sectoral partnerships with business, philanthropy and state sectors to leverage taxpayer dollars.
- Developing domestic science, technology, engineering and mathematics talent, e.g., President Donald Trump's executive order to promote excellence and innovation at the nation's historically Black colleges and universities and extending that bold aspiration to the nation's tribal colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, trade schools and community colleges.
- Championing a reimagined NSF to meet the future head-on, with vision, urgency and hope.
"The nation's science and technology (S&T) enterprise is in the midst of a profound transformation," says Chair McCrary. "A transformation that began years ago and is now accelerating as priorities shift and the way we 'do' S&T evolves from the norms of the past 75 years."
"We can't succeed in a new era with yesterday's playbook," says McCrary. "The National Science Board supports President Trump's aspiration for a Golden Age of American Innovation and will continue to work in partnership with the White House, the Congress and leaders across business, academia, national security and state sectors for a vibrant, innovative National Science Foundation and U.S. S&T enterprise that delivers on urgent national priorities and improves the lives of all Americans."
"NSF lays the groundwork for future world-changing advances — the next, next big thing, like it did for AI and quantum," says Vice Chair Dominguez. "The Foundation is a key pillar of our nation's security and strength, and I look forward to working with Chair McCrary, the board and NSF to ensure our nation's prosperity and security for the next 75 years."
Adds McCrary: "I want to also say to the NSF staff: The board sees your deep dedication to the National Science Foundation and its vital mission for our country. We are grateful for you and the work you do every single day to fulfill that mission."
Chair McCrary and Vice Chair Dominguez will lead the board until May 2026, when the NSB will hold elections, as it does in May of every even year.
About Victor McCrary
McCrary was a member of the NSB class of 2016-2022 and was reappointed to the class of 2022-2028. Since 2020, he has served as NSB's vice chair, assuming the role of acting chair in April 2025 when Gil stepped down.
As vice chair, McCrary regularly engaged with science and engineering communities, congressional offices, and federal agency leaders. During his first six years on the board, McCrary led the effort to recognize the non-degreed STEM workforce, resulting in the board's report, The Skilled Technical Workforce: Crafting America's Science and Engineering Enterprise.
McCrary is vice president for research and professor of chemistry at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), where he leads the strategic development and sustainability of UDC's research ecosystem through use-inspired innovations, grants and partnerships, as part of UDC's public land-grant mission. After receiving his doctoral degree in chemistry from Howard University, he started his career as a post-doctoral research scientist and then a permanent member of technical staff at AT&T Bell Laboratories-Murray Hill in semiconductor materials growth. McCrary then joined the Advanced Technology Program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), eventually becoming the inaugural chief of the Convergent Information Systems Division. At NIST, McCrary led the effort for electronic book industry standards, and his laboratories developed prototypes, including a Braille reader for e-books, by employing an innovative cadre of senior researchers, high school and college students. For his efforts in developing industry-based standards for electronic books, McCrary was a co-recipient of a gold medal award from the U.S. Department of Commerce in September 2000.
McCrary's executive research leadership positions include the vice chancellor for research at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville; vice president for research and economic development at Morgan State University; and business area executive for science & technology and principal professional staff at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. He is a former national president of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, a fellow of the American Chemical Society, a fourth-degree Knight of Columbus, and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
About Aaron Dominguez
Dominguez is executive vice president and provost at The Catholic University of America and a member of the National Science Board's class of 2020 - 2026. He chaired the board's Awards and Facilities Committee from 2022-24, addressing strategic issues and recommending policies to the board on NSF awards and Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction projects.
At The Catholic University of America, Dominguez oversees the academic life of the University's 11 schools, its libraries, research institutes, and The Catholic University of America Press, as well as student affairs. Dominguez is also a physics professor and previously served as dean of the School of Arts and Sciences.
Prior to joining Catholic University, Dominguez was a professor of physics and astronomy and associate dean of research and global engagement at the University of Nebraska and a postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. His research focuses on using particle colliders to search for new physics, including the recently discovered Higgs boson, and he is an expert in instrumentation — designing, building and using silicon charged particle trackers as precision tools to reconstruct the complicated interactions taking place in these collisions. Dominguez serves on several advisory boards and is a fellow of the American Physical Society, a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a fourth-degree knight in the Knights of Columbus.
Learn more about the National Science Board.
Media Contact Nadine Lymn, National Science Board, (703) 292-2490, nlymn@nsf.gov