Robert McCoy, Ph.D.
Executive Director, AHDC UARCDirector, Geophysical Institute
University of Alaska Fairbanks
A.B., Physics, Cornell University
M.S., Physics, Texas A&M University
Ph.D., Astro-Geophysics, University of Colorado Boulder
McCoy became the Director of the GI in 2011 and assumed leadership of the AHDC UARC in 2023. The GI is home to more than 460 faculty, staff and students who do research in geophysical disciplines in Alaska ranging from volcanology to space physics. The GI has nine major operational facilities including a rocket range, 12 downlink satellite dishes, HAARP, a large drone program and centers to monitor volcanoes and earthquakes in Alaska. In 2018 the GI became a DoD University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) for Geophysical Detection of Nuclear Proliferation (GDNP).
Prior to coming to Alaska, he worked for the Naval Research Lab (NRL) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) as a space scientist. He served as the Technical Director of the DoD’s Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) Office at Kirtland AFB while managing ONR’s Tactical Space Innovative Naval Prototype program. He is a fellow of the American Meteorological Society.
David Schuster, Ph.D.
Deputy Director, AHDC UARCResearch Professor
University of Alaska Fairbanks
B.S., Physics, University of Arizona
M.S., Physics, University of Miami
Ph.D., Applied Physics, Colorado School of Mines
Schuster was appointed Deputy Director of the AHDC UARC and a Research Professor within the Geophysical Institute in 2025. Prior to these roles, he served in various roles in the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community as both contractor and civilian, most recently as an Analytic Methodologist at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. In addition to his academic training, he has continuing graduate education in Strategic Intelligence from National Intelligence University and a Six Sigma Green Belt. He is also a certified Principal Data Scientist by the Data Science Council of America and a Level II Geospatial Data Manager by the GEOINT Professional Certification Program.
Glenda Findlay
Senior Program ManagerB.A., Education and Business, University of Alaska
MBA, Business Management, University of Alaska
Attracted by the opportunity to combine geophysics with DoD business opportunities, Glenda joined the University of Alaska GDNP UARC in February 2024.
Findlay’s career started at the University of Alaska in 1996 and has served as the K-12 Outreach Director and various Program Manager positions. She has worked with numerous stakeholders (legislators, native corporations, school districts and boards), and led strategic initiatives along with crafting educational policy.
Sarah Garcia
Fiscal ManagerB.A., Accounting, University of Alaska
MBA, Capital Markets, University of Alaska
Sarah joined the University of Alaska GDNP UARC in July 2025.
Sarah has financially managed several major research programs and standalone research projects with the University since beginning this career path in 2006. She is well-positioned to serve the needs of the UARC.
Chuck Arnold
Security SpecialistB.S. Management of Technical Operations, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
M.A. Computer Resources and Information Management, Webster University
Chuck has had a multifaceted career path working in Law Enforcement in Central and Southern California, managing restaurants, serving in the United States Army during two conflicts and spending 26 years in the Defense Industry as a Facility Security Officer. Chuck has worked in large and small companies managing their security programs as well as FOCI controls for a foreign owned US cleared contractor company.