W. M. Keck Observatory Appoints Rich Matsuda as Director

The W. M. Keck Observatory today announced the appointment of Rich Matsuda as its next director, effective January 1, 2024. 

"With the support of our Board of Directors, our Observatory has been making a pivot for the last several years, turning toward a new paradigm of mutuality with and for our community. During my tenure as director, my commitment is that our operations, our technical capabilities, and our potential for astronomical discovery will continue to be world-class, and will be even stronger because our work is rooted firmly here in Hawaiʻi, connected deeply to the community and the culture of this place," said Matsuda.

The Keck Observatory Board's Search Committee, co-chaired by Director of the University of California Observatories Bruce Macintosh and by Caltech's Professor of Astronomy Lynne Hillenbrand, led the search for a director. The Keck Observatory is operated as a scientific partnership among Caltech, the University of California, and NASA.

An electrical engineer by trade, Matsuda started his career at Keck Observatory helping with the construction of the Keck II telescope. He is kamaʻāina to Hawaiʻi, locally born and raised, and has served in an executive leadership role at the Observatory since 2016. Before assuming the role of interim director of the Observatory in May 2023, Matsuda served as Keck Observatory's chief of operations for five years, as well as associate director of external relations. His leadership team includes John O'Meara, deputy director and chief scientist, who will continue to serve as a close colleague and collaborator.

Read the full story from the Keck Observatory.