Heard joins Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics Section

Erin Heard has joined the Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics Section in the National Science Foundation’s Office of Polar Programs as NSF’s Station Manager, Antarctica.

In this role, during the Southern Hemisphere winter, he will provide day-to-day oversight of infrastructure and facilities operations in support of science in and around McMurdo Station, NSF’s logistics hub on the continent. His job is to ensure operations are responsive to program requirements for science support; safety and health; logistics; information technology development; facilities, engineering, and construction.

Heard began his career with the NSF-managed U.S. Antarctic Program as a general assistant in 2005 and has held a variety of positions in the program since. He has worked at all three permanent U.S. Antarctic research stations--McMurdo, Amundsen-Scott South Pole, and Palmer--most deep-field camps, and many other locations across the continent. He has worked in Science Support, Operations, Field Safety, and Information and Technology and Communications in both summer and winter.

Heard has private-sector experience in automotive mechanics, utility-scale wind energy, construction management, and structural-engineering design.

He received his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and has added numerous technical certificates through his varied career. He is an Eagle Scout.