Paxton Elected Fellow of the American Geophysical Union

Larry Paxton of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, has been elected a 2026 fellow of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), the world’s largest association of Earth and space scientists.

Each year, AGU bestows this honor on no more than 0.1% of its tens of thousands of members, recognizing researchers who have demonstrated sustained scientific impact and made exceptional contributions to Earth and space science over their careers, whether through a breakthrough, a discovery, or innovation.

“Larry’s election as an AGU fellow reflects the depth of his scientific accomplishments as well as the leadership and service he has provided across the space physics community,” said Bobby Braun, head of APL’s Space Exploration Sector. “His research, mentorship, and service have deepened our understanding of Earth’s space environment while helping to shape the people advancing it. This is a well-earned recognition.”

An expert in space science mission design, technology, and innovation, Paxton has made an indelible mark on Earth and space science over his career, particularly during his 37 years at APL. He has authored or co-authored nearly 400 peer-reviewed publications, which have been cited more than 12,000 times. He has also served as principal investigator on seven space instruments, including his continued role leading the Global Ultraviolet Imager instrument aboard NASA’s Thermosphere, Mesosphere, Ionosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED) mission, and the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program’s Special Sensor Ultraviolet Spectrographic Imager (SSUSI) instruments. Data from these instruments — used in more than 2,000 scientific publications — has given scientists decades of observations that have expanded understanding of Earth’s upper atmosphere and the near-Earth space environment.

“It means a great deal to be named a fellow of the AGU, especially because I have not had a typical science career,” Paxton said. “The thread running through my career has been service — mentoring others, strengthening the scientific community, and helping APL and our nation tackle important national security challenges in space. The most meaningful part of this recognition for me is that it provides an opportunity to open doors for others, build new partnerships, and create opportunities to advance science and technology.”

The AGU designation is the latest in a series of recent honors for Paxton. In 2024, he earned a Distinguished Service Award from the International Astronautical Federation for years of organizing and chairing symposia for the annual International Astronautical Congress, as well as for his efforts to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of the scientific and engineering communities. Earlier this summer, he was also selected to present the Distinguished Lecture at the annual meeting of the National Science Foundation’s Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions program in Iowa.

Paxton has served as president of AGU’s Space Physics and Aeronomy section and recently completed a term as an editor of the union’s flagship journal, AGU Advances. He has served on the Space Studies Board of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and is an academician of the International Academy of Astronautics and a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

AGU’s 2026 fellows will be formally honored on Dec. 9 during the association’s annual meeting in San Francisco.