Sixto Gonzalez
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Dr. Sixto Gonzalez (b. 1965) was the first Puerto Rican to be named Director of the Arecibo Observatory, the world's largest single dish radio telescope.
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[edit] Early years
Gonzalez was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico but, soon after his birth his family moved to the city of Yabucoa, where he received his primary education. He received his secondary education in Humacao. As a child, he would take things apart and put them back together again, thereby developing a curiosity about the world around him. He graduated with honors from high school and was accepted at MIT. [1]
In 1983, he traveled to Massachusetts and enrolled in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at MIT. Gonzalez returned to the island in 1985 and enrolled at the Humacao campus of the University of Puerto Rico to study Physics and Electronics, earning his Bachelors of Science degree in 1988. While at the university he was able to do undergraduate research at the Arecibo Observatory, the world's largest single dish radio telescope.
In 1988, Gonzalez enrolled in the Department of Physics and Center for Space and Atmospheric Sciences at Utah State University. He was able to base his thesis "Radar, satellite, and modeling studies of the low latitude protonosphere" from data gained at the observatory. He earned his PhD in 1994.[2]
[edit] Arecibo Observatory
When Gonzalez returned to the island, he became the first Puerto Rican member of the scientist staff and named research associate at the observatory. He held this position until 1999 when he was named senior research associate. He and Jose Alonso educational officer at the observatory, together with and Maiella Ramos (UPR) created a new program of firsthand research experience in the geosciences for high school students and their teachers and for undergraduates in northwest Puerto Rico.[3]
In 2001, Gonzalez was named assistant director for space and atmospheric sciences at the telescopic facility. On September 29, 2003, Gonzalez became the first Puerto Rican to be named Director of the observatory. The appointment was made by Robert Brown, director of the National Astronomy and Ionoshere Center (NAIC). Gonzalez is responsible for the overall management of the facility, including the executions of basic policy that maintains the observatory at the front of research in astronomy, planetary studies and atmospheric science. He stepped down as Director on September 15, 2006, although he continues as assistant director for space and atmospheric sciences.[1]
Some of the professional organizations in which Gonzalez is a member are: The American Geophysical Union, the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) and the URSI commission G. Gonzalez is married and has three children. [2]
[edit] Honors
On October 30, 2003, Dr. Gonzalez was honored by the United States House of Representatives when he was publicly congratulated. The following is a quote from the Congressional Record - Extensions of Remarks "Mr. Speaker, today I want to congratulate the people of Puerto Rico, the Arecibo Observatory and its scientists on its 40-year anniversary. Also, congratulations to Director Sixto Gonzalez for his great job and recent ascension to the leadership of the Arecibo Observatory.[1]
