Former NASA chief economist Alexander MacDonald has been appointed to lead the Canadian Space Agency, succeeding Lisa Campbell.
Alexander MacDonald, the first chief economist at NASA, has been named the president of the Canadian Space Agency. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly announced the appointment in Ottawa on Wednesday, November 5, 2026.
MacDonald is expected to join the agency on November 16. He previously worked at NASA for approximately 17 years before leaving in December 2024. According to a government news release, MacDonald helped establish NASA’s Moon to Mars strategy and its Artemis program. His previous roles at the American agency included serving as a senior economic adviser in the administrator’s office and as the founding program executive of the Emerging Space Office. In 2024, he received NASA’s Exceptional Service Medal.
MacDonald’s academic background includes studying economics at Queen’s University and the University of British Columbia. He also completed a doctorate at the University of Oxford, focusing on the long-term economic history of American space exploration.
MacDonald succeeds Lisa Campbell, who has served as president since 2020. During the transition period, Senior vice-president Jean-Claude Piedboeuf has served as acting president. According to the Canadian Space Agency, the appointment followed an open, competency-based selection process.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly stated that MacDonald brings "leadership experience and expertise in space policy and economics," adding that he "understands that space is crucial to Canada’s national and economic security."
Speaking at a tribute event for Marc Garneau, the first Canadian to travel to space, MacDonald addressed the crowd in Ottawa. "As incredible as this year has been, I am even more excited about what the future holds for Canadians in space," MacDonald said. He also stated, "Space has never been more important for the strength and future of Canada, and never before has the world looked to Canada more for global leadership in the space domain."
The appointment occurs as the government of Prime Minister Mark Carney seeks to expand Canada's space capabilities. The federal government's new defence industrial strategy, released in February, identified space-based platforms for surveillance as a key priority. Additionally, the Carney government is seeking to expand cooperation with European countries through a proposed partnership with the European Union.
Canada's involvement in lunar exploration is currently evolving. In March, NASA announced intentions to pause the Gateway lunar-orbiting station in its current form to focus on infrastructure for sustained operations on the Moon's surface. While Canada had planned to contribute Canadarm3 to the Gateway, the Canadian agency has announced its intention to repurpose those investments to support the next phase of lunar exploration.
Canada is also developing a concept for a lunar utility rover, which the agency says could assist with tasks such as moving supplies, scouting for resources, and supporting astronauts. This mission is currently in concept development with a potential launch in the 2030s. Earlier this month, Joly appointed astronaut Jeremy Hansen as a special advisor to the government to help develop a new space strategy.
Sources
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