David Kendall
Dr. Kendall obtained his PhD in Atmospheric Physics from the University of Calgary in 1979. He has worked in private industry, although, for most of his career, he worked for the Federal Government, first as a Research Scientist at the Space Division of the National Research Council of Canada, and, later, for the Canadian Space Agency when it was created in 1989. During his career at the CSA he rose to lead the Space Science program as Director General, retiring in 2015. After retirement he was appointed as the Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) based in Vienna, Austria (2016-2017).
Dr. Kendall's scientific interests include the Earth's upper atmosphere and space weather phenomena although, more recently, he has focussed on international space policy issues associated with the sustainability of outer space.
Dr. Kendall has spent much of his career working with students and young professionals mainly through his long association with the International Space University where he is faculty member, emeritus. He is also on the Board of Advisors of SEDS-Canada and part of their mentorship program.
Shortly after his retirement he helped found the Outer Space Institute based in Vancouver and is a Fellow of that institute.
Dr. Kendall is an elected academician of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and, during his career, has acted in various capacities on a number of national and international bodies, including the International Astronautical Federation, the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), UN COPUOS, the European Space Agency, the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee, the Group on Earth Observations, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
He is a recipient of the CASI 2017 C.D. Howe Award and the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award for Lifetime Achievement from the University of Calgary, and in 2002, was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in recognition of his significant contributions and achievement to Canada.
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