David J. McComas
Southwest Research Institute
David John McComas is an American space physicist, Professor of Astrophysical Sciences, and leads the Space Physics at Princeton Group at Princeton University. He was the Princeton University Vice President for the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab (PPPL) from 2016 - 2024 and previously Assistant Vice President for Space Science and Engineering at the Southwest Research Institute, Adjoint Professor of Physics at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), and was the founding director of the Cente
Read biography ↓Biography, research & contributions
David John McComas is an American space physicist, Professor of Astrophysical Sciences, and leads the Space Physics at Princeton Group at Princeton University. He was the Princeton University Vice President for the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab (PPPL) from 2016 - 2024 and previously Assistant Vice President for Space Science and Engineering at the Southwest Research Institute, Adjoint Professor of Physics at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), and was the founding director of the Center for Space Science and Exploration at Los Alamos National Laboratory. He is noted for his accomplishments in experimental space plasma physics, including leading instruments and missions to study the heliosphere and solar wind: IMAP, IBEX, TWINS, Ulysses/SWOOPS, ACE/SWEPAM, and Parker Solar Probe. He received the National Academy of Science's 2023 Arctowski Medal, European Geosciences Union 2022 Hannes Alfven Medal, SCOSTEP 2022 Distinguished Scientist Award, a NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal in 2015, the 2014 COSPAR Space Science Award, and the American Geophysical Union 1993 Macelwane Medal.
Affiliation
Southwest Research Institute
Top Publications
- The Solar Probe Plus Mission: Humanity’s First Visit to Our Star (2015) - 1,336 citations
- Solar Wind Electron Proton Alpha Monitor (SWEPAM) for the Advanced Composition Explorer (1998) - 945 citations
- The FIELDS Instrument Suite for Solar Probe Plus (2016) - 854 citations
- Solar Wind Electron Proton Alpha Monitor (SWEPAM) for the Advanced Composition Explorer (1998) - 825 citations
- Geomagnetic activity associated with earth passage of interplanetary shock disturbances and coronal mass ejections (1991) - 679 citations
At a glance
- Full name
- David J. McComas
- ORCID
- 0000-0001-6160-1158
- OpenAlex ID
- https://openalex.org/A5087930598
Research interests
- Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics, Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics, Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies, Astro and Planetary Science, Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena
Research topics
Education
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Selected research & further reading
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See the source-linked reading and original works in the research guide above.
Citation & publication trends
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Source: OpenAlex · Retrieved 2026-10-08. Metrics are database-specific and are not a scientific ranking.
Most-cited linked publications
Publications matched across ORCID and OpenAlex. Citation counts are source-specific.
- The Solar Probe Plus Mission: Humanity’s First Visit to Our Star ↗2015 · Space Science Reviews1,336OpenAlex citations
- Solar Wind Electron Proton Alpha Monitor (SWEPAM) for the Advanced Composition Explorer ↗1998 · Space Science Reviews945OpenAlex citations
- The FIELDS Instrument Suite for Solar Probe Plus ↗2016 · Space Science Reviews854OpenAlex citations
- 825OpenAlex citations
- Geomagnetic activity associated with earth passage of interplanetary shock disturbances and coronal mass ejections ↗1991 · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres679OpenAlex citations
Recent linked publications
Publications matched across ORCID and OpenAlex. Citation counts are source-specific.
- The Solar Probe Plus Mission: Humanity’s First Visit to Our Star ↗2015 · Space Science Reviews
- Solar Wind Electron Proton Alpha Monitor (SWEPAM) for the Advanced Composition Explorer ↗1998 · Space Science Reviews
- The FIELDS Instrument Suite for Solar Probe Plus ↗2016 · Space Science Reviews
- Geomagnetic activity associated with earth passage of interplanetary shock disturbances and coronal mass ejections ↗1991 · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres
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Institutions
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Awards & honors
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Co-authors
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Sign in to claim this profileSources & data information
Editorial review: 2026-10-08 · Last data update: 2026-10-08 00:28:31
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