Marc Etkind

Marc Etkind is NASA’s associate administrator for the agency’s Office of Communications.

Etkind joined NASA Jan. 25, 2021, with more than two decades of experience in development, production, content strategy, and management for science-based programming organizations. Etkind directs internal and external communications for NASA and serves as a senior advisor to agency leaders. He is responsible for managing an agencywide staff of more than 200 that implements all aspects of NASA’s external and internal communications.

Previously, Etkind served as general manager for the Science Channel, part of Discovery Inc., a position he began in 2015. In that capacity, he was responsible for all aspects of development, production, brand strategy, and day-to-day operations for the network.

Etkind brought back to the network the robot competition “BattleBots,” launched STEM-focused “MythBusters Jr,” initiated the network’s live coverage of the Great American Eclipse and NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 Mission to the International Space Station, and commissioned award-winning specials, including “Cassini’s Grand Finale” and “History of Pluto.”

Prior to that, Etkind served Discovery Inc. as general manager and senior vice president for content strategy for Destination America and vice president for development for Animal Planet. In addition, his experience includes serving as senior director of programming for the History Channel and founder and CEO of Pinball Productions. Etkind’s credits include “NOVA,” “Scientific American Frontiers with Alan Alda,” “Discover Magazine,” “This Week in History,” “How It’s Made,” and “How the Universe Works,” as well as exhibits for the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago and many more.

Etkind also has worked as a researcher for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Faulkner Island Tern Project, Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, and the Yale School of Medicine.

Etkind earned a bachelor of arts degree in biology from Brown University.