Marc Etkind

From Jan. 25, 2021, to Jan. 20, 2025, Marc Etkind served as NASA’s associate administrator for the agency’s Office of Communications. 

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

Under the leadership of NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, Etkind shaped and shared the NASA story – and conveyed NASA’s value to the American people and to all of humanity – during a wide range of agency milestones.  

During Etkind’s tenure, NASA launched the Artemis I uncrewed flight test, marking one of many chapters as America leads humanity back to the Moon, onward to Mars, and into a golden era of space exploration. Etkind also led messaging for all subsequent Artemis mission updates, from naming the crew for Artemis II to announcing groundbreaking commercial and international partnerships that include, among others, a new generation of landers, spacesuits, and rovers for Artemis Generation astronauts. 

Etkind also crafted the story around the launch and ongoing operations of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, which continued unveiling images of the universe like never before. 

The NASA story Etkind helped to tell included a series of firsts. During the Biden-Harris Administration, NASA landed and began operating the Mars Perseverance Rover, marked the first controlled flight on another planet through the Mars Ingenuity Helicopter, launched the first successful test demonstration in planetary defense through NASA’s DART mission, and launched the first mission to explore Europa, one of Jupiter’s frozen moons, among many other feats and firsts. 

Believing in the special power of space to unite the nations of the Earth, Etkind helped to tell the NASA story as the agency deepened its partnerships and cooperation with nations from every continent, such as by marking more than 50 signatories to the Artemis Accords – a set of commonsense principles to guide the peaceful exploration of space. He led communications efforts on engagements ranging from Nelson and Melroy’s travels to more than 25 nations to NASA’s programming during the historic 2024 Total Solar Eclipse over North America, a moment when millions of people paused together to marvel at the majesty of our solar system and the power of science. 

Because space belongs to everyone, Etkind led critical efforts to help the NASA story reach more people. Under his leadership, NASA significantly grew NASA en español programming and outreach, such as through the first Spanish-language launch broadcast; modernized the agency’s award-winning website, NASA.gov; and oversaw the launch of NASA+, the agency’s streaming service that brings content about the wonders of discovery, inspiration, and exploration to the world. Etkind also shaped messaging as NASA launched Earth.gov and opened two Earth Information Centers: one at the Smithsonian Museum for Natural History and another at NASA’s Headquarters in Washington. These programs help make data from NASA’s Earth observations more accessible, actionable, and available to all. 

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.