Dr. David Roy named Science Team Leader of 2026–2030 Landsat Science Team

January 22, 2026

David Roy, Professor in the Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences and Director of the Center for Global Change and Earth Observations (CGCEO) at Michigan State University, has been named Science Team Leader of the newly formed 2026-2030 Landsat Science Team. 

Professor Roy has previously served on the two prior five-year Landsat Science Teams and is a highly cited researcher, ranked among the top 2% of scientists worldwide. His appointment reflects his long-standing contributions to satellite remote sensing and the scientific stewardship of the Landsat program.

The Landsat Science Team brings together experts from universities, private industry, and federal and international agencies to advise the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and NASA. The team helps ensure that the Landsat Earth observation program continues to deliver trusted, consistent, and publicly available data. Eight successive Landsat satellite missions have produced the world’s longest continuous satellite record of Earth’s land surface—spanning more than 50 years—and generated an estimated $25.6 billion in economic benefits in 2023. Landsat data are widely used to monitor and manage terrestrial and nearshore aquatic resources, supporting environmental sustainability, economic development, human well-being, national security, and scientific discovery.

Professor Roy’s funded research as part of the Landsat Science Team focuses on maintaining the scientific integrity and long-term consistency of the Landsat satellite record, particularly in preparation for the next planned Landsat mission scheduled for launch in the early 2030s.

“I am particularly pleased to continue serving on the Landsat Science Team during a period of significant change and opportunity,” Roy said. “This includes the growth of public–commercial partnerships and major advances in information extraction from satellite data using artificial intelligence techniques.

More information about the new Landsat Science Team is available from NASA at: https://science.nasa.gov/missions/landsat/new-landsat-science-team-announced/