Former NASA Chief Economist Alexander MacDonald Appointed President of Canadian Space Agency
Alexander MacDonald, formerly NASA’s Chief Economist until December 2024, has been appointed as the new President of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The Canadian Government announced MacDonald’s selection on November 4, 2026. He succeeds Lisa Campbell, whose five-year term was extended by one year. MacDonald, a dual Canadian-U.S. citizen born in Canada, previously held several positions at NASA, including program executive for the International Space Station National Laboratory. After leaving NASA, he served as a non-resident Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and as a Distinguished Professor of Practice at Arizona State University. Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, stated that MacDonald’s deep expertise in space policy and economics, and his understanding of space’s importance to national and economic security, make him well-suited for the role. He is scheduled to begin his new positio...