Leadership
Dr. Houser has proven leadership skills and ability to build world-class research capabilities, as demonstrated in his leadership positions at NASA and CREW. This is evidenced by his terms as NASA Headquarters Program Manager in Hydrology, Head of the NASA Hydrological Sciences Branch, Project Scientist for the Hydros soil moisture satellite mission and the NASA Energy and Water cycle Study (NEWS), and as Director of the Center for Research on Environment and Water (CREW). Moreover, during his time at NASA he established a team of more than 30 support scientists through his national competitive funding awards. Currently CREW (a Center that is wholly supported by his national competitive funding awards), has already grown to more than 10 support scientists in only 3 years. Dr. Houser has been awarded a considerable number of large research grants with very ambitious goals. These grants have been successfully completed as evidenced by his significant publication track record in highly regarded peer-reviewed journals. Moreover, his research has often bridged interdisciplinary boundaries. He has also received several prestigious awards, including a U.S. Presidential Award. Evidence of his substantial track record relative to his relatively short career. Dr. Houser was recognized as one of the most exceptional and visionary scientists amongst NASA’s already gifted and forward thinking leaders. It is no surprise then that it is Dr. Houser who has been chosen to lead many innovative and ambitious projects. As a gifted leader he consistently takes action to motivate, inspire and coordinate the talents of others, directing their efforts in areas of groundbreaking research to attain excellence in all of their endeavors.
Since his decision in 2005 to join George Mason University as a faculty member, Dr. Houser has guided his students and empowered them with the necessary skills to achieve their goals and become successful. He encourages and trusts others around him to think independently but also engage as a team when necessary while applying cutting-edge research to develop practical solutions to water problems faced by society today.
Dr. Houser is often described as a visionary leader, and has demonstrated his capacity to leave an enduring legacy at NASA, which includes several hydrology missions, modeling projects, and research themes. An esteemed colleague once described Dr. Houser as one of the most exceptional scientists amongst NASA’s already gifted and forward thinking leaders. Dr. Houser actively engages colleagues and partners on collaborative projects and quite frequently is the member who is chosen to lead collaborative, interdiciplinary endeavors. Projects under the direction of Dr. Houser invariably impact the international, as well as lnational scientific community. As a gifted leader he consistently takes action to motivate, inspire and coordinate the talents of others, directing their efforts in areas of groundbreaking research to attain excellence in all endeavors. Dr. Houser keeps current and connected to others by attending, presenting and coordinating seminars and workshops, teaching, presenting lectures at graduate and undergraduate levels, developing academic curricula, dissertation advising and continuing his research activities. Dr. Houser has a proven reputation in the educational as well as scientific community and has an extensive list of collaborations. Dr. Houser encourages and trusts others around him to think independently but also engage as a team when necessary while applying cutting-edge research to develop practical solutions to water problems faced by society today. Dr. Houser is a team builder with the motto of ‘water cycle research making a difference’.