Dr. Kelly K. Falkner, a member of the federal Senior Executive Service, serves as the Director of the Office of Polar Programs of the U. S. National Science Foundation (NSF). She oversees an annual budget of approximately $500 million in support of U.S. investigators at a wide variety of institutions to conduct Arctic and Antarctic research as well as the infrastructure and logistics to support that research. Dr. Falkner is also the Director of the U.S. Antarctic Program, which NSF manages on behalf of all of U.S. government. She currently serves as the Chair of the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs and as a member of the U.S. Delegation to the annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. She is the recipient of a 2018 Presidential rank Award for Meritorious Service. Dr. Falkner was a Professor in Chemical Oceanography at Oregon State University for 25 years before joining government service.